05-07-2025
From Beef Paste To Gajar Ka Halwa, How Do Astronauts Eat in Zero Gravity? Explained
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Freeze-dried foods first made their way into space during NASA's Gemini Program, designed to sustain astronauts on missions lasting up to two weeks
Imagine a bowl of your favourite warm soup. Now imagine it floating upside down as you struggle to get a mouthful. For astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), this is how every meal is—a delicate dance of science, engineering, and appetite.
From vacuum-sealed tacos to rehydrated scrambled eggs, eating in space is less about fine dining and more about surviving in zero gravity—without letting your lunch float away. But how exactly do astronauts fill their stomachs hundreds of kilometres above Earth? Let's start with the history of eating in space.
According to NASA, on April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri A Gagarin also became the first person to eat in space, 'squeezing beef and liver paste from an aluminum tube into his mouth. For dessert he had a chocolate sauce, eating it using the same method". Astronaut John H Glenn became the first American to eat in space as he relished apple sauce from a toothpaste-like tube. His fellow Mercury astronauts on slightly longer missions consumed other food items also from tubes.
Freeze-dried foods first made their way into space during NASA's Gemini Program, designed to sustain astronauts on missions lasting up to two weeks. To eat, crewmembers would inject water from the spacecraft's supply into the food packets to rehydrate them. By the time of the Apollo missions to the Moon, the menu had expanded to around 70 items, ranging from main courses to condiments and drinks—all still freeze-dried and sealed in pre-packaged containers.
As the Apollo programme progressed, enhancements were introduced, such as the option to use hot water for rehydration and food pouches that allowed astronauts to eat with a spoon, making meals slightly more familiar. While sandwiches were tested, they quickly proved problematic: the bread spoiled easily and crumbs floated freely in the cabin, posing risks to equipment and even the astronauts' eyes and lungs.
With Skylab, America's first space station, the variety of food didn't grow significantly, but preservation methods improved thanks to the addition of a freezer. According to Charles Bourland, the NASA food scientist who helped develop Skylab's meal system, about 15 per cent of the onboard food could now be frozen, allowing astronauts to enjoy items like ice cream and lobster Newburg. The rest of the meals were canned, offering both convenience and long shelf life.
HOW DO ASTRONAUTS EAT IN SPACE?
In microgravity, food can float away, so meals aren't served on plates or in bowls. Instead, astronauts eat out of special containers like thermostabilised pouches (like vacuum-sealed bags), cans, and rehydratable packets (foods that need water added before eating).
Many space foods are freeze-dried to save weight and prevent spoilage. Astronauts inject hot or cold water into these packets to bring the meals back to life before eating. This is exactly how Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who has been in space for more than a week at the International Space Station (ISS), would have had his favourite gajar ka halwa and moong dal ka halwa that he carried from home.
Beverages such as tea and coffee or the aamras that Shukla's family specially packed for him are usually in powder form, which can be mixed with water before consumption. There is provision for heating the food on the ISS.
Astronauts mostly use spoons with magnetic or Velcro grips, straws (with clamps) for drinking from sealed beverage bags, and scissors to cut open food packets. Since crumbs and loose liquids float and can clog air filters or damage sensitive equipment, bread is often replaced with tortillas, and sticky, viscous foods (like peanut butter or oatmeal) are preferred because they don't drift easily.
Seasonings such as salt and pepper are available, but they are typically dissolved in water which can be added to the food through droppers, Indian Express reported.
After meals, used food packets are disposed of in designated waste compartments, while utensils are wiped clean with special towelettes. Since water is limited and can't be used for washing, traditional cleaning methods aren't possible in space.
Growing food in space is a major focus for space agencies like NASA for both practical survival and long-term sustainability in deep space missions.
For missions to Mars or deep space, resupplying food from Earth isn't feasible—it would take months or even years for deliveries. Growing food onboard means astronauts can become self-reliant, reducing dependency on Earth.
Also, launching food from Earth is expensive and inefficient. Every extra kilogram adds to the cost and fuel load of a mission. Producing food in space drastically reduces the need to launch large food reserves.
Plants don't just provide food—they also release oxygen through photosynthesis, absorb carbon dioxide, and help recycle water in closed-loop systems. This supports the entire life support system and creates a more sustainable habitat.
Packaged space food has a long shelf life, but nutrients (especially vitamins) degrade over time. Freshly grown food offers better nutrition, more fibre and natural hydration.
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From the emotional and mental perspective, caring for plants and eating something freshly grown helps astronauts feel more connected to Earth. It reduces isolation and monotony in long missions, improving morale, which is crucial for mental health in confined, high-stress environments.
So far, NASA has grown lettuce, radishes, mustard greens, and chili peppers on the ISS, while China successfully sprouted cotton and potato seeds on the Moon (Chang'e-4 mission). Future missions now plan to test more crops, soil substitutes, and artificial light systems.
tags :
International Space Station ISS nasa Shubhanshu Shukla
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
July 05, 2025, 16:46 IST
News explainers From Beef Paste To Gajar Ka Halwa, How Do Astronauts Eat in Zero Gravity? Explained
