ASTRONAUTS ORBITING ON THEIR STOMACHS

摘要

Mercury (1958-63), Gemini (1962-6) and Apollo (1967-72) astronauts ate bite-sized food and liquids in aluminium tubes, but this has changed. Today astronauts eat food prepared to fit their dietary requirements and personal preferences. It is grown, cooked and prepared for them on Earth. Even fresh food is shipped to the International Space Station. This is a luxury that researchers on Antarctica stations can currently only dream of,1 and it is certainly not yet possible for future spacefarers off to distant places. Looking ahead, aeronautical design needs to accommodate the consumption and production of food.