Researchers have revealed the perfect meal for astronauts embarking on long journeys in a recent study, and it is not the bland prepackaged fare one might expect.
Scientists believe the answer lies in a delicious and nutritious vegetarian salad carefully curated to meet the unique needs of space travelers (via Phys.org).
The Complicated Space Diet
According to NASA, astronauts in space consume 3,500 calories a day - significantly more calories than their counterparts on Earth. This necessitates extra micronutrients such as calcium to maintain optimal health under the microgravity conditions they endure.
As space agencies plan for extended missions, the challenge of providing astronauts with a balanced and palatable diet has become increasingly crucial. Moreover, future missions demand a sustainable approach to growing food within spacecraft or space colonies.
The research, led by Volker Hessel and his team, involved employing a sophisticated method called linear programming.
Choosing the Best Meal for Space Travelers
This computational approach balances various factors to meet specific goals, in this case, identifying combinations of fresh ingredients that could fulfill the nutritional requirements of male astronauts while minimizing water usage in cultivation.
Sustainability was a prime concern for the researchers. They selected ingredients that demanded minimal fertilizer, time, and space to grow while assessing the recyclability of inedible portions.
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After evaluating ten scenarios, a vegetarian meal comprising soybeans, poppy seeds, barley, kale, peanuts, sweet potato, and sunflower seeds emerged as the most efficient regarding nutrients and farming inputs.
Although this combination did not cover all the required micronutrients, the researchers proposed supplementing the missing elements separately.
To ensure the chosen combination was not only efficient but also palatable, the team prepared the ideal space meal as a salad and subjected it to taste testing on Earth. One tester expressed enthusiasm, stating they "wouldn't mind eating this all week as an astronaut," highlighting the potential success of the selected combination.
Looking Ahead
The study, "Modeling of Space Crop-Based Dishes for Optimal Nutrient Delivery to Astronauts and Beyond on Earth," offers a comprehensive insight into the meticulous planning required to provide astronauts with sustainable and appetizing meals during prolonged space missions.
By considering up to 102 crops and 36 nutrients recommended by NASA, the researchers demonstrated a commitment to creating a well-rounded diet for astronauts.
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to extend their study to cater to the nutritional needs of female astronauts and explore an even greater variety of crops for space cultivation.
The meticulous assessment of waste generation, recyclability, and overall mass processing aligns with the broader sustainability goals in future space missions, such as the envisioned journey to Mars.
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