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.
Researchers have evaluated 10 ‘space dishes’ on their suitability for multiyear space travel, and identified what might be the best of the bunch – a salad with ingredients that can be grown in space.
Now, researchers have designed the optimal “space meal”: a tasty vegetarian salad. They chose fresh ingredients that meet male astronauts’ specialized nutritional needs and can be grown in space.