Mealtime aboard the I.S.S.

[biscuits brown]

Curteousy of NASA

An interesting view of 9 of the 13 members of the International Space Station repair team pictured summer 2009.
Note the wide array of foods and different methods of packaging.
As a big fan of the tin its great to see tins in space.

Note the odd pulley - like device. A power operated fork?? Most items are held onto the table by velcro it would seem.
Anyone spot or identify anything interesting?

[donaldjcheek]

The US has gone almost completely to retort pouches for space foods. The Russians still prefer cans. As an aside, when French astronauts began making space voyages, most ate US or Russian rations. However, a French chef developed a line of space-compatible foods in Russian-type aluminum cans so the French astronauts could have a taste of home.

[biscuits brown]

Im beginning to suspect that retort packaging was started on as a direct result of the decision to begin planning for Project Horizon. Briefly a 1958 armed forces plan to put a small military installation with 12 men on the moon. The wording in the original paper calls for new materials and methods of manufacture to be investigated in clothing, packaging, etc.
Remember this predates Gemini or Mercury planning by 2 or 3 years. Horizon was the first attempt to regain technical dominance from the USSR after Sputnik.

Wiki Project Horizon. Its fascinating.

[Treesuit]

In the space station photo "yes" sometimes velcro is used to keep the pouches, tins, etc from floating away and there is another trick of using a droplet(s) of water on the bottom of cans and using something like adhesion to keep the can from flaoting away. I can't remember the scientific name but I did see a article on that same topic on the History Channel.

Also retort pouches I believe were a result of the space program but it wasn't fully developed until the moon missions. I do remember seeing some photos of small liquid and compressed food bars for the Gemini and Mercury Programs. Could be that the HORIZON pilot program got it kicked off as far as feeding people in the technical aspects and funding?

[biscuits brown]

I think you are right Treesuit. This probably gave NATICK the long term goal. After all the argument I just saw on the web while checking this, says retorts were developed because of weight (fine, applies to space too) and risk of injury of troops falling on cans, which sounds a bit lame for a multi million dollar research effort.
Worse things can befall a man under fire than landing heavily on his franks and beans.

[biscuits brown]

Curteousy of NASA

Mercury mission ration pack. Seems to consist of freeze dried and dehydrated foods.
Taken 12th May 1962.

[Bypah]

This is what is used in the ISS

This was used in the early days of the shuttle missions.

food.jpg (16.06 KiB) Viewed 9122 times

Gemini and Apollo missions food.Interesting gadget to pump hot water to rehydrate the food components.

Project Mercury...food pills and tubes.

mercury food.gif (11.73 KiB) Viewed 9122 times

*Courtesy of NASA*

[PerseP]

800px-Meal_STS127.jpg

An interesting view of 9 of the 13 members of the International Space Station repair team pictured summer 2009.
Note the wide array of foods and different methods of packaging.
As a big fan of the tin its great to see tins in space.

Note the odd pulley - like device. A power operated fork?? Most items are held onto the table by velcro it would seem.
Anyone spot or identify anything interesting?

Hi,
can you post the original link to the picture. I'm interested in the swiss army knife that appears in the center on the picture.

Thanks

[PerseP]

Hi,
can you post the original link to the picture. I'm interested in the swiss army knife that appears in the center on the picture.

Thanks

Found it

[Bypah]

It looks like could be one of these two....

The main blade is serrated not straight.

swiss army knife 1.jpg (31.03 KiB) Viewed 9060 times

this one the "Rucksack" has a serrated blade separated from the main blade.

swiss army knife 2.jpg (38.47 KiB) Viewed 9060 times

Or you can get the new military version for the Swiss Army....

new swiss army knife.jpg (21.63 KiB) Viewed 8807 times

..or the Bundeswehr version also made by Victorinox.

Bundeswehr Victorinox pocketknife.jpg (10.49 KiB) Viewed 8807 times