The Artemis II crew was somewhere in the void between the moon and Earth this past Saturday, prepping for their Monday lunar flyby. It’s a strange thought—being that far out. The four-person team is carrying everything they need for the 10-day mission, which sounds simple enough until you realize they can’t just stop at a market or get a supply drop like those folks living on the International Space Station.
They are stuck with what they packed, period. Unlike the old Apollo days, where Frank Borman famously griped about the “unappetizing” rehydrated packs, NASA has actually stepped up its game. The meals have to be shelf-stable—no refrigeration allowed—and they have to avoid crumbs, which is a nightmare in microgravity. I can practically hear the hum of the cooling fans in the Orion module just thinking about it.
It’s not just about the calories. There are weight limits on everything, even the drinks. Each astronaut is limited to two flavored beverages a day—coffee, green tea, maybe a juice—which seems rough if you’re a big fan of, say, iced tea all afternoon. Actually, the variety is surprisingly decent for space: tortillas, brisket, quiche, even cauliflower mac and cheese. They’ve got 189 unique items to choose from, or maybe it’s a bit less? No, that’s the number.
NASA says the crew had a huge say in the menu before they even left the ground. They spent months sampling and rating everything. It’s all packed in these specific, crew-centric containers to keep things flexible.
So, how does the food actually hold up once you’re hurtling through deep space? Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen mentioned he hasn’t noticed much change in the flavor profile, which is interesting since most people expect their taste buds to go haywire in orbit. He did mention snacking on maple biscuits on that first day. A nice, sweet touch—or at least a decent way to wrap up a long shift of systems checks.
Anyway, it’s a massive shift from the early spaceflight rations. Not quite a five-star dining experience, but certainly better than the past. I wonder if the brisket tastes as good on day seven, or if they’re just… well, they’re likely just focused on the moon.