Just like earthlings, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) enjoy meals together; though the microgravity conditions make dinnertime in space a little different from how it is on Earth. Astronaut Megan McArthur who is currently aboard the ISS recently share a video that shows a recent dining session with her fellow astronauts.
The footage shows a lively atmosphere as everyone comes together to share meals and stories. “Looking forward to another Saturday in with good friends, good laughs, and good space food!” McArthur’s tweet read.
Enjoying the weekend in space
While space travelers often eat dinner in a small group during the week, on Saturday nights they make a special effort to eat at the same table and enjoy together. As the video reveals, the lack of gravity means things can be hard to control at times, with the food floating around before it’s caught and brought back to the table by one of the astronauts. “We love our Saturday dinner parties on the space station,” McArthur says in the video.
Much of the food aboard the ISS comes in heat-stabilized pouches or vacuum packs that require hot or cold water to be added in order to eat. However, the astronauts also get occasional treats that are delivered by spacecraft supply missions. For this dinner, the astronauts were served with cheese and hummus, likely delivered by SpaceX’s recent supply mission.
Food is sent in a liquid state
“Preparation varies with the food type,” NASA wrote. “Some foods can be eaten in their natural forms, such as brownies and fruit. Other foods require adding water, such as macaroni and cheese or spaghetti. Of course, an oven is provided in the space station to heat foods to the proper temperature. There are no refrigerators in space, so space food must be stored and prepared properly to avoid spoilage, especially on longer missions.”
Other essentials such as salt and pepper are also provided, but they are sent in liquid form, as sprinkling them in their normal state could cause them to float in microgravity. It could also clog air vents or get into astronauts’ eyes.
