NASA To Develop 'Food Bars' For Astronauts In Space: What Is It Made Of?

Internet connection is not the only and major problem space workers tackle when out in space. NASA is working on how to limit the loads that astronauts carry on these space missions. And as a way to do this, scientists are currently developing food bars for deep-space missions by Orion astronauts. How do these space food bars taste and where are they made of?

A single journey to Mars may take a long time and the astronauts need their daily dose of nutrients to keep them packed and energized, reports VOA News. However, food packs brought in space have caused certain concerns in the past. Usually, these issues involve the taste, storage time, nutrition, packaging, and adequacy. The NASA was challenged by these concerns, pushing them to develop new food innovations that can keep up with long, deep-space missions.

Aside from that challenge, NASA wants to come up with food items that will not only be lightweight and easy to pack but will also be healthy for the astronauts. Something that will not let them gain weight. Although these edible items won't be literally fresh, the scientists aim for food bars that will not be categorized as junk food.

Orion's missions are entirely different from what the International Space Station does. This means that the food to be served could only be those that last for longer periods of time, can easily be digested, and will not produce too much waste or trash. Unlike with the ISS astronauts who may pick from a vast array of about 200 food items, the Orion astronauts with missions to Mars only have limited choices, shares International Business Times.

According to a NASA statement, one of the goals they want for these food bars' outcome was for the astronauts to have a variety of flavors to choose from. These food bars are well studied on so that the effectiveness of what the astronauts can have during breakfast, lunch, and dinner will not be far from what the ISS crew gets. Also, NASA develops a certain way on how Orion astronauts can warm their main meals for the day.

Apart from flavors like barbecue nut or orange cranberry, Space Food Systems Laboratory scientists also aim to produce these food bars with high calories, enough to energize and keep the astronauts' strength at work. The scientists also came up on how to package these high-calorie food bars, because according to them, whatever size a food bar with 700-900 calories, it is still heavy.

The food bars they are developing recently are made for breakfast consumption. These "breakfast bars" are expected to be readily available for the Orion crew before they go on their first Mars mission on 2021.