Researchers Design the Ideal Meal for Long-Term Space Travelers
Imagine blasting off on a multiyear voyage to Mars, fueled by a diet of bland, prepackaged meals. As space agencies plan for longer missions, they’re grappling with the challenge of how to best feed people. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Food Science & Technology have designed the optimal “space meal”.
A Tasty Vegetarian Salad
The ideal space meal turned out to be a vegetarian salad. The researchers chose fresh ingredients that meet male astronauts’ specialized nutritional needs and can be grown in space.
Food – Not Just for Nutrition
Food scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) explain that food plays a crucial role in an astronaut’s health both from a nutritional and a psychological standpoint. Food can offer comfort, break up monotony, and give a sense of connection for astronauts so far from home.
Designing Meals for Long-Term Space Travel
The researchers used food constraints that were based on NASA's recommendations. They considered 36 nutrients and 102 crops. They evaluated 10 “space dishes” for daily full-nutrient supply to one astronaut. Four of the considered dishes were vegetarian (crops only), and six were omnivorous (crops and meat).
The Nutritional Challenge in Space
Astronauts in space have unique nutritional needs. They burn more calories and require extra micronutrients like calcium. Researchers aim to develop meals that meet these requirements while considering sustainability for long-term missions.
Fresh Ingredients and Space Agriculture
Researchers used linear programming to assess combinations of fresh ingredients. Linear programming computationally balances different variables to meet a specific goal. In this case, their model identified how well the combinations of different foods could meet a male astronaut’s daily nutritional needs while minimizing the water required to grow the foods.
Designing the Optimal Space Meal
The research team identifies a vegetarian meal composed of soybeans, poppy seeds, barley, kale, peanuts, sweet potato, and/or sunflower seeds as the most efficient in providing maximal nutrients with minimal farming inputs. Of the meals tested, this meal best met their goal to balance nutritional needs, minimize water usage, and ensure sustainability for growing food in spacecraft or space colonies.
Supplementation for Micronutrient Completeness
While the identified vegetarian combination doesn't cover all required micronutrients, the researchers suggest supplementing the missing ones. This approach ensures astronauts receive a comprehensive nutritional profile in their space diet.
Taste Testing on Earth
To verify the appeal of the space meal, the researchers prepare a salad version for taste testing on Earth. Results are positive, with one tester expressing a willingness to eat it all week as an astronaut. Further tests and variations are planned.
Looking Ahead: Options for Female Astronauts
Future research aims to expand the computer model to provide meal options tailored to female astronauts. The goal is to diversify and enhance the variety of crops considered for space agriculture.
Source: American Chemical Society
Alissa Zorn is an author, and founder of the website Overthought This. She's a coach and cartoonist passionate about helping people overcome perfectionism and shame to build authentic, joyful lives. Alissa is certified through the International Coach Federation and got her Trauma-Informed Coaching certification from Moving the Human Spirit. She wrote Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection, Not Perfection, and is always following curiosity to find her next creative endeavor.