Tag: Zero gravity

Astronauts experience a dulled sense of taste in space, similar to having a head cold. This affects what is the most popular food in space and explains the preference for strong flavors.

Over 300 different food items are available on the menu for astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), a far cry from the pureed pastes of the early space programs. This vast improvement in variety and palatability showcases the complex engineering involved in addressing the question of how do astronauts eat their food in space.

During her extended stays on the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams relied on a meticulously planned diet of freeze-dried meals, pre-cooked dishes, and limited fresh produce, as well as recycling water from her own sweat and urine for hydration. These methods are crucial adaptations to living and eating in a microgravity environment.

The first American to eat in orbit, John Glenn, proved in 1962 that swallowing works normally in space. This initial concern was a popular misconception, but his mission showed that it is possible to eat and swallow food in space with surprising ease, thanks to our body's autonomous digestive system.