What are we going to eat? - The complex challenges of space food
The first article in a series on space food - A small introduction to the complex world of space food.
Missions to the moon come with a myriad of challenges and even though we may have the technology to bring humans to the moon, we do not have the required food systems to sustain them. Ultimately food is a limiting factor for human space travel.
However, sustaining astronauts on the Moon is not easy and comes with a plethora of new challenges. Let me introduce you to some of them, starting with an introduction to the subject before delving a little bit deeper into each area.
There is a reinvigoration of human space travel, and humankind is once again preparing to return to the Moon. However, this time things will be different. Our intentions extend beyond merely planting a flag, acquiring bragging rights, and then leaving. This time, we have a long-term vision - we are going to establish a permanent presence. The plan starts with the construction of the Lunar Gateway, the first extraterrestrial space station, which will orbit the Moon. Subsequently, we aim to establish a habitable environment on the Moon itself, enabling a continuous human presence. This lunar habitat will serve as a crucial stepping stone, providing invaluable insights and experience for our next goal of settling on Mars. In other words, humanity stands at the precipice of a new era.
Missions to the Moon come with a myriad of challenges and even though we have the technology to bring humans to the Moon, there is one problem that we need to address before we go there.
What are we going to eat?
Currently, we do not have the required food system to sustain the astronauts on the Moon. Ultimately, food is a limiting factor for human space travel.
The first question we ask ourselves is, can we send food to the Moon? The answer is not that straightforward. First, deliveries to the Moon are costly. Prices per kilogram depend on the rockets that will deliver them, and even though prices will drop with more efficient rocket systems, shipping costs are, let's say out of this world. Believe it or not, DHL offers a MoonBox service and will deliver to the moon with a small shipping fee of 1.2 million USD. If you want a lunar rover to transport it to your base, the price will increase to 4.5 million USD. Not only is this very expensive for example a kilogram of flour, but launching payloads into space may not always be possible or may be delayed for various reasons, meaning that we cannot rely on resupply missions from Earth.
Aside from resource and cost limitations, the food that can be delivered from Earth will be limited to foods with a very long shelf life that preferably can be stored at room temperature, is lightweight, and can withstand a solid amount of space radiation. The issue with these types of foods is that they do not have an organoleptic appeal, meaning they are bland and unappetizing. The tube-like foods and the nutrient-dense cubes that some people may associate with space food actually got discontinued after the Mercury missions when the astronauts came back malnourished because they did not want to eat the food, simply because it was too boring. The same thing happened later during the Apollo missions when they tried to make the food a little bit more interesting, but the astronauts did not eat due to the lack of stimulation from both taste and menu fatigue.
It is important to recognize the significant role food plays in our lives, beyond being a source of nutrients, as it also contributes to our cultural, social, and emotional well-being.
We cannot forget the sensorial qualities of food, encompassing taste, texture, smell, freshness, and variety, greatly influence our dining experiences. Moreover, food holds an emotional aspect, serving as a source of comfort and nostalgia, reminiscent of our connection to Earth. Socially, it facilitates the act of sharing meals, fostering communication, and providing opportunities for gathering and engaging in meaningful conversations. Additionally, the environment in which food is consumed also shapes our dining experiences.
Food actually plays an important role as a countermeasure to the many psychological challenges that humans experience on deep space missions. Meeting the basic human psychological needs is actually one of the major challenges in space food development. Interestingly, this endeavor has and will lead to significant advancements in the understanding of human food psychology and food philosophy. More on that subject will come later.
However, the importance of a healthy diet extends beyond Earth. When embarking on deep space missions, including journeys to the Moon, astronauts encounter various physiological and physical challenges resulting from increased radiation exposure and the effects of microgravity on the body. Proper nutrition becomes crucial for astronauts to overcome and survive these challenges. Conversely, the environmental conditions in space severely affect our metabolic processes and the body’s ability to utilize nutrients.
These are some of the many challenges that we face when developing food systems for long-term space missions and all of the factors mentioned above need to be taken into consideration. This demands multidisciplinary collaborations and out-of-the-box thinking, which is one of the many interesting aspects when working in the space industry.
To answer the question stated above, do we need to rely on Earth to get food to the Moon? No, we need to have an independent food production on the Moon, that may at first be combined with resupplies from Earth. This is also not a one solution fits all approach. More on that in another post.
