Space food is specially prepared and packaged to meet astronauts' nutritional needs and prevent floating crumbs/liquids in microgravity. Early space food consisted of dried cubes and powders in tubes. Advances led to rehydratable foods and thermo-stabilized canned goods. Food is packaged for ease of preparation using methods like modified atmosphere packaging and water-activated pouches. Future plans include growing crops hydroponically on space farms.

2. Preservation
Methods utilized in
Space Food
Wajeeha Batool
(L1F19BSFT0089)

3. Introduction:
• Space foods are those food
products specially created
and processed for consumption
of astronauts in outer space.
• Advancements in food
packaging, preservation,
preparation and nutrient to meet
the challenges of space resulted
in many commercial products.
• Food needs to be edible
throughout the mission, and it
also needs to provide all the
nutrients required to avoid
vitamin deficiency diseases

4. What is
Space Food?
Space food is a variety of food products, specially
created and processed for consumption
by astronauts in outer space.
The food pack has rubber grips that prevent the
food items from floating.
The meal tray is usually strapped to an object, to
prevent it from floating - and the liquid items
are stored in tubes or cartons.
The food has specific requirements of
providing balanced nutrition for individuals working
in space.

5. History:
• From the beginning the food
space was mainly made up of
equal cubes, dried powders, and
soft drinks placed in aluminum
tubes.
• Then, cubes are cut off, the
powders make it easy to re-
freeze, and the cubes are coated
with gelatin to reduce crumbling,
with the introduction of spoon
bowl.
• Astronauts were able to open the
contents of the package and eat
a light meal with a spoon.

6. Missions:
• PROJECT MERCURY( 1959-
1963)
• GEMINI( 1965-1966)
• APOLLO( 1968-1975)
• SKYLAB(1973-1974)
• Interkosmos (1978–1988)

7. Microgravity:
The spacecraft and all its contents
are in a state of free-fall
 Crumbs and liquids could damage
equipment or be inhaled
Special straws with clamp are used
for drinking the liquids
 Microgravity also causes the utensils
used for dining to float away
The knife, fork, spoon, and scissors
are secured to magnets on the food
tray when they are not being used

8. Types:
Fresh foods
Rehydratable
Natural form
Intermediate moisture
Thermo-stabilized foods
Irradiated food
Frozen & Refrigerated

9. Fresh Foods
These foods are neither
processed nor artificially
preserved.
 Examples include apples
and bananas.

10. Rehydratable Foods:
Water is removed.
Also known as freeze drying.
 Water is replaced in the foods
before they are eaten.
Hot cereals such as oatmeal
is rehydratable food
 Fuel cells.

11. Natural form Foods:
Ready to eat
 Packaged in flexible pouches
 Examples include nuts,
granola bars, and cookies

12. Intermediate
Moisture Foods
Intermediate moisture foods
are preserved by taking some
water out of the product while
leaving enough in it
Maintain the soft texture
This way, it can be eaten
without any preparation
 Dried peaches, pears,
apricots, and beef jerky

13. Thermostabilized
Foods:
Heat processed
 Stored at room temperature
Most of the fruits and fish
(tuna fish) are thermo-
stabilized in cans.
Beef tips with mushrooms,
tomatoes and eggplant,
grilled chicken and ham
The cans open with easy-
open pull tabs.

14. Irradiated Food:
Beef steak and smoked turkey
are the only irradiated products
being used at this time
These products are cooked and
packaged in flexible foil pouches
and sterilized by ionizing
radiation so they can be kept at
room temperature.

15. Frozen & Refrigerated
Foods:
Quick frozen
Texture & Taste
Examples-noodles, rice and
chicken
Refrigerated food also used.

16. How to prepare a
meal in space?
• A freeze-dried meal would be
rehydrated using a water gun to
inject cold water into the package.
After cutting the package open
with scissors, the meal was then
ready to eat.

17. Packaging:
1)Bite-sized foods :
• Modified Atmosphere
Techniques.
• Each package is flushed with
nitrogen three times before
the final seal apply vacuum
• The amount of vacuum used
varies depending upon the
food product

18. Packaging:
2) Rehydratable packages :
• Packed in the shape of a
cup and a lid
• They are made of a
flexible material to aid in
trash compression.
• The septa is made
from silicon rubber
• Water injected in food

19. Future
Scope:
NASA plans to
grow fruits and
vegetables on
space farms,
greenhouses that
are temperature
controlled,
artificially lit
Hydroponic
system
Crops might
include soybeans,
peanuts, spinach,
cabbage, lettuce
and rice
Wheat berries and
soybeans can be
grown and
processed into
pasta or bread

20. Conclusion:
• Space food is essential for
astronauts. NASA developing
more and more research on space
food which gives higher energy for
astronaut.
• In the space stay of the long
term, the storage technology of the
food is important. Surplus food and
the establishment of a safe save
method of the food are essential.