On April Fools’ Day, NASA made history via its Artemis 2 mission, sending humans to the moon for the first time in over half a century – and it wasn’t a joke either. On top of that, the Orion space capsule will take humans farther into outer space than our species has ever gone before over the course of its voyage around the moon.
So, what are the astronauts on board – Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Jeremy Hansen, to be precise – going to be eating and drinking during their 10-day trek?
It turns out the culinary cosmos has come a long way since the days of freeze-dried everything. Let’s dig in.
The Science of Space Food
When it comes to planning a 10-day menu for astronauts, many factors are involved.
Obviously, the health and performance of the Artemis II crew is of the utmost importance, so the astronauts’ hydration levels, nutrient intake, and caloric needs are all taken into account.
However, NASA’s space food experts must also navigate limitations like the lack of refrigeration aboard the Orion spacecraft or opportunities to resupply. This means that all meals, snacks, and drinks must be safe and shelf-stable, as well as easy to prepare and consume while on board.
There are also the crew’s individual preferences and dietary needs to consider, and NASA says the four astronauts on the Artemis 2 mission provided their input on the menu in the early stages of the planning process.
Avoiding a Crummy Outcome
Another unexpected priority? Minimizing crumbs.
I actually learned a bit about this topic while writing this article on freeze-dried candy in 2024, as the first iterations of freeze-dried foods were not only unappetizing but also difficult to rehydrate and consume without sending clouds of crumbs flying into the costly spacecraft machinery.
On Earth, crumbs may be messy, but they’re rarely a safety hazard since they fall onto your plate, the floor, or your lap with a little help from gravity – but in the weightless micro-gravity within a spacecraft, crumbs float away and therefore have the potential to injure the crew in addition to the equipment.
In 1965, rumor has it that an astronaut named John Young snuck a corned beef sandwich onto his Gemini 3 mission.
Though this stunt caused quite the ruckus among U.S. Congress members and resulted in an investigation of the incident, the crisis was reportedly averted on board, as Young only took a quick bite out of the controversial sandwich before safely stowing it away, according to the U.K. National Space Centre.
This is a major reason why there are no sandwiches on the Artemis 2 menu; however, the 4-person crew is expected to consume 58 tortillas during their 10 days on board, according to NASA.
The Artemis II Food Menu
Beyond dozens of tortillas, the astronauts will also dig into a few other carbohydrates like wheat flatbread, couscous with nuts, mac & cheese, and granola with berries in addition to a handful of carb-heavy dessert items.
In terms of protein, their options include:
- Breakfast sausage
- Vegetable quiche
- Barbecued beef brisket
And despite the lack of refrigeration aboard the Orion spacecraft, the crew will still be able to enjoy a variety of shelf-stable items containing fruits and vegetables, such as mango salad, tropical fruit salad, butternut squash, cauliflower, and broccoli au gratin, as well as nuts and legumes like almonds, cashews, and spicy green beans.
So, what will they be washing it all down with?
Interstellar Sips and Sauces
The Artemis II beverage menu includes items like:
- Green tea
- Breakfast drinks (chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla)
- Mango-peach smoothie
- Pineapple drink
- Lemonade
- Apple cider
- Cocoa
- Coffee
While I’m not quite sure what else is included in some of the more mysterious beverages on the menu – looking at you, ‘pineapple drink’ – I did learn that NASA has projected the crew will consume approximately 43 cups of coffee while on board.
As for condiments, five different hot sauces with varying spice levels will be available, along with spicy mustard, peanut/almond butter, honey, maple syrup, strawberry jam, and chocolate spread.
More Than Moon Pies
As for the dessert menu, the Artemis 2 crew will enjoy a selection of sweets that includes:
- Cake
- Candy-coated almonds
- Chocolate
- Cobbler
- Cookies
- Pudding
I’ll admit that it’s hard for me to imagine myself eating a cookie or piece of cake without getting crumbs everywhere, but maybe that’s because I’m a messy eater – or perhaps these items are served in tubes or pouches that prevent this sort of thing from happening.
The science of space food has come a long way, so I’m sure they’ve got it all figured out.
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