Food Challenges for Astronauts

NASA has been enhancing the quality and variety of space food since human spaceflight began. Space food must be easy to handle in zero gravity, nutritious, and tasty. NASA's Space Food Systems Laboratory focuses on these improvements, ensuring astronauts receive a balanced diet. Freeze-dried food is commonly used due to its lightweight and long shelf life. Occasionally, astronauts prepare their own meals, such as a pizza party inspired by Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli's craving, using ingredients sent from Earth.

What is one of the main challenges of designing food for astronauts?

• Ensuring it is spicy

• Making it look like Earth food

• Making it easy to hold and eat in zero gravity

• Ensuring it is colorful

Why is it important for astronauts to have a balanced diet in space?

• To prevent boredom

• To reduce the cost of space missions

• To make space food more interesting

• To maintain their health during long missions

What is a key benefit of freeze-dried food for space missions?

• It is more colorful

• It is cheaper to produce

• It can be stored without refrigeration

• It tastes better than fresh food

How often do astronauts get to prepare their own meals in space?

• Once a week

• Rarely, only on special occasions

• Every day

• Never

What prompted NASA to send pizza ingredients to the astronauts?

• A request from the mission commander

• A special holiday celebration

• A new experiment in space cooking

• An Italian astronaut's craving for his favorite food

What unique method did astronauts use to slice their pizzas in space?

• With scissors

• With a pizza cutter

• With a knife

• With a laser cutter