How Astronauts Spend Their Thanksgiving In Space
In space no one can hear you scream, but can they hear you feast? If you have ever wondered what it is like to celebrate a family holiday in space, there are a few astronauts who can give you the answers.
ABC News shares the process of creating the holiday space dish. All the food which the astronauts will eat is prepared by the Space Food Research Facility at Texas A&M University. The facility produces the food, which is then packed in MRE (Meal, Ready-to-Eat) pouches. The food that is placed in the pouches, is sterilized, dehydrated and completely sealed from the outside environment. Then, it is transported to space, where it gets heated in a galley oven and eaten right off the corner of the pouch. If food is not consumed in this way, it will float through the weightless space.
Usually, the astronauts have a day off on Thanksgiving Day, but this time they will work through the day, later gathering for an international dinner. Space shares that the course for the holiday dinner will be smoked turkey, cornbread dressing, strawberries, tea w/sugar and as-flown cranberry sauce spread. Since alcohol is forbidden on the ISS, the astronauts will have to settle for sweet tea. Another great opportunity for the astronauts is to watch a football game, as the tradition decrees.
If you feel like receiving a firsthand explanation of the space celebration of the holiday, Live Science have shared a video in which one of the American crew members of the ISS explains everything there is to know about space food and the celebration of the big holiday together with his French and Russian colleagues.
What do you think about it? Is it a dream of yours to spend a holiday is space? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.
