What was, is and will be a menu space travelers

• What was, is and will be a menu space travelers

In 1962, the American John Glenn on board the spacecraft "Friendship 7" squeezed out of metallic tubes of applesauce and mashed potatoes with beef and vegetables directly into his mouth through the hole in the suit. It was all so exciting that is firmly lodged in the collective consciousness as the image of what the astronauts eat.

Since the space food has changed dramatically. We have traced the evolution of the cosmic food since the beginning of the 60s until today, and know what awaits her in the future.

The food in tubes was really popular in the US. But not among those who were supposed to have had it. Until the mid-60s and mission "Gemini" and "Apollo" in the trend was dehydrated, freeze-dried food in the form of bars, which can be eaten by human beings, but by then which was a lot of floating in weightlessness crumbs, damage equipment.

In the past decade it has been a lot of experimentation with space meal. At one time we tried to include in the diet of the wine, but it was not enough, and wandered to a sterile space. I had to give up soda, because she behaved very strangely in conditions of weightlessness. One of the main innovations began quilting, which was attached to the food tray, because in space it can easily fly away, before you start to eat it. Tray, in turn, attached to the table.

Today astronauts menu even a variety of restaurants. According to NASA, the astronauts can choose from more than 200 kinds of food and beverages. For about 8-9 months prior to the flight of the special session on the food assessment, where astronauts are trying to choose their meals and breakfasts, lunches, dinners and suppers. The food contains all the nutrients you need, because the astronauts need to consume per day as much calories as on Earth.

Menu on the ISS is repeated every 8 days. On holidays the astronauts can request a variety of things that remind them of home. They also have a "set of psychological support" from friends and family. But a simple assortment of food is not enough, so as not to lose your appetite. Space food problem is that the taste is not the same as on Earth - a softer and with a strange taste.

In recent years, especially after the numerous cooking shows have become mainstream, with NASA began to cooperate the best chef. So there was, for example, space kimchi (Korean cuisine dish of sharply spiced pickled vegetables).

When half a century ago, space mission lasted only a few weeks, but today there is a question of food systems for missions lasting years. NASA already thinking about the special "hydroponic labs" where astronauts can grow vegetables, potatoes, beans, wheat and rice.

To enable astronauts themselves to cook - it means to give them independence and autonomy in action. Autonomy - a very important thing for future space missions. Now almost all the time the astronauts are in communication with flight control center on Earth, and their whole day is scheduled at 5-minute intervals. But in the long expeditions this will not happen because of the delay signal. Moreover, if you want people to not have gone mad during, say, a three-year mission to Mars, it is impossible to monitor every minute of their lives.

If someone thinks that the space food has become more and more high-tech, he is mistaken. On the contrary, food becomes more and more similar to the one we used to have in the world. And by and large, all that people need in space - it's normal food.