In a cosmic twist of culinary fun, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, has taken her love for samosas, the spicy Indian snack, to new heights - literally! As part of the historic Boeing Starliner mission, cosmonaut Williams, alongside her trusty space-mate Barry "Butch" Wilmore, are bringing the spicy veggie stuffed pastry along as they blast off into the stars. But why would an astronaut need to smuggle a savory snack into space? The answer lies in the evolution of astronaut cuisine. It used to suck...but it's getting better.
Outer Space Snacking
Gone are the days of squeezing nasty, pureed beef and liver K-ration paste from sad aluminum tubes like Russian space pioneer Yuri Gagarin, (the first man to eat in space) had to. Today's cosmic connoisseurs enjoy a menu of over 100 menu items aboard spacecraft like the International Space Station, from fresh fruits to prepackaged lunches that are tasty enough to compete with terrestrial ready-to-go meals. Or picture yourself enjoying a steaming bowl of rehydrated ramen noodles, courtesy of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. And if you need that post-meal pick me up, sip on a rich Italian espresso while gazing at Milan from the Earth's atmosphere, thanks to NASA's space-ready ISSpresso machine. This interstellar menu isn't just about satisfying hunger; it's a way for astronauts from different nations to bring their homes along into the enormity of the heavens.
Floating Food
But how will Williams and her team manage their celestial cuisine without making a weightless mess? The answer lies in space-age packaging: zip-lock bags, retort pouches, and canning methods that would make any doomsday prepper jealous. When it's mealtime, our galactic gastronomes have to strap into chairs with thigh and foot supports and use magnetized utensils so their spoons don't drift off into the engine room - which would be bad, we assume.
Starline Sanitation
You might be wondering what happens after all that cosmic cuisine is consumed. I mean, come on, it's got to go somewhere, right? Here's what we know - in space, no one can hear you flush. The toilets use air instead of water, and waste gets jettisoned into space. As for food scraps and leftovers, they're compacted and stored until the shuttle returns to Earth.
Personalizing Her Space...In Space
So what's up with our samosa-smuggling space explorer, Sunita? As a veteran of two previous space missions, she knows a thing or two about bringing a personal twist to the great abyss. Along with her beloved samosas, she's packed Hindu sacred texts like the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, and even a small figurine of the Ganesh, the god of good fortune.
In the grand buffet of space cuisine, a taste of home, whether it's a zesty samosa or a rich espresso, can make even the daunting void of the Milky Way feel a little more welcoming. We haven't heard exactly what's on their menu outside of the spicy appetizer yet, but bon appétit intrepid space travelers, and may your meals be as adventurous as your missions. May you boldly go where no samosa has gone before. #toinfinityandbeyond
