Rations outside the earth's atmosphere...

rational · Post by **rational** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:41 pm

Hey there -
Could someone tell me what sort of MRE's the astronauts/shuttle crew use? I assume they are retort-packaged, and I was wondering if they are the silver-bagged Wornick entrees such as "Vegetarian Pasta Fagioli" that come in the white boxes (8 oz) I have also seen these pictured in some MRE's, maybe civilian or training ones?
Thanks,
Rational

Post by **kman** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:46 pm

That's a good question about the current food that the astronauts use. I would think some googling might be in order to get that one figured out.

As for those Wornick entrees you mentioned, those are the ones they included in their old Mil-Spec brand MREs. I still have a case of those from 1999/2000 and the Pasta Fagioli is in there.

rational · Post by **rational** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:48 pm

I just hope no newbie shuttle crewmember is given a Brit "Treacle Pudding" to open in zero gravity! That's a lot of molasses!

dirtbag · Post by **dirtbag** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:01 pm

Try this
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/f ... s/food.pdf

rational · Post by **rational** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 3:31 pm

Hate to call you dirtbag, but thanks dirtbag for the NASA link!
Yes apparently most of the entrees are retort packaged (no mention of Country Captain Chicken) and apparently crumbs are the biggest problem, so tortillas have been a staple for 20 years now. Also mentioned is that salt & pepper is suspended in liquid, in little bottles.
I was surprised that a "fresh food locker" is supplied before missions, with oranges, celery sticks etc. Personally, Country Captain Chicken tastes good if I'm hungry, but celery (esp the dark green stuff!) still doesn't.

Don't allow Dr. Smith on your space mission.