Category: Astronaut life

Astronauts consume a variety of foods and beverages during space missions. In general terms, the food that astronauts eat is called 'space food,' which includes a variety of specifically designed meals.

M&M's were the first candy to travel to space, aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1981, according to the National Air and Space Museum. This marked the beginning of astronauts enjoying treats in microgravity, provided the candies met specific criteria.

Astronauts do consume candies while in space, though the popular image of freeze-dried ice cream is not often accurate for actual space missions. The history of how sweets, both freeze-dried and otherwise, became part of the astronaut diet is a fascinating topic in the evolution of space cuisine.

In 1965, astronaut John Young famously smuggled a corned beef sandwich onto the Gemini 3 mission, only for it to be banned shortly after due to floating crumbs. This incident perfectly illustrates why certain everyday foods are strictly forbidden in the weightless environment of space.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station consume a significant amount of calories, with daily intake needs ranging from 2,500 to 3,500 calories to compensate for the physical demands of living in microgravity. The question of how much food do astronauts eat per day is central to their health and mission success, requiring a carefully calculated and robust dietary plan.