NASA Develops Vegan Menu For Mars Mission

.finedininglovers.com ^ | July 24, 2012 | Rose Y.Colón on

[BenLurkin]

Next time NASA sends astronauts to Mars in the 2030s they won't be eating freeze dried food or liquid meals. That's so last millenium. On their projected mission to Mars NASA astronauts will eat 100% vegan meals complete with fresh fruits and vegetables grown on the spaceship.

How is this possible? It's all thanks to the research being done by NASA's Advanced Food Technology (AFT) project. Since Mars has some gravity, the AFT researchers believe astronauts will be able to chop, cook vegetables and even grow their own plants using hydroponics.

The six to eight astronauts that will participate in the Mars mission will require enough food for three years. Mars is so far away that NASA won't be able to send food every six months like they do for the International Space Station. Neither will they be able to preserve meat or dairy for such a long period. according to senior research scientist Maya Cooper.

[equaviator]

No, they’ll all be farting up a storm that will drive the module pressurization regulators crazy.

[MrChips]

Well, it is the "red" planet, after all.

[blueunicorn6]

I was only in Las Vegan once. They seemed to have a lot of buffets. Looked like a lot of ham and beef at those casinos. I guess things have changed.

[boop]

Remember when John Glenn went on the space shuttle? They made a big deal about how the meat needed no refrigeration because it was exposed to xrays, killing off all bacteria.

And yeah, I like the idea above of hanging the meat "outside" in the cargo bay. Talk about a deep freezer.

[SledgeCS]

If they have to suffer a vegan diet all the way to Mars and by chance happen to find some kind of life form that can be eaten, that resembles any type of a meat dish. Would the first supply ship request to NASA include a large amount of Kingsford Charcoal?