<p>NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, part of the Boeing Crew Flight Test mission on the International Space Station (ISS), have been stuck in space for more than 50 days due to a helium leak in their spacecraft's service module, delaying their mission.</p>

<p>Extended time in microgravity poses various health risks to astronauts. Reports suggest that Williams is experiencing significant health challenges, particularly rapid bone density loss, similar to osteoporosis, as bones do not bear weight in microgravity. The crew also underwent detailed eye examinations to study the potential vision impacts of long-term space missions, focusing on the cornea, lens, and optic nerve.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-warns-3-asteroids-hurtling-towards-earth-will-come-closest-on-this-day-747551">NASA warns 3 asteroids hurtling towards Earth will come closest on THIS day</a></p>

<p>To mitigate bone loss, NASA utilises specific exercise routines and nutritional strategies. Astronauts engage in resistance and aerobic exercises to help maintain bone density.</p>

<p>Nutrition is vital for astronaut health, with NASA providing a variety of space foods in different categories:</p>

<h2><strong>Rehydratable Foods</strong></h2>

<p>These items, including soups, casseroles and breakfast foods, have water removed before launch to save weight and are rehydrated with water generated on the shuttle.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/moon-has-graphene-in-its-soil-heres-all-about-this-wonder-material-747427">Moon has graphene in its soil. Here's all about this 'wonder material'</a></p>

<h2><strong>Thermo-stabilised Foods</strong></h2>

<p>These heat-processed items such as fruits, fish, and entrees are packaged in cans, plastic cups or retort pouches to ensure they are safe to eat. Most fruits and fish like tuna and salmon are canned using heat to keep them fresh. These cans come with easy-to-open lids. Puddings are put in plastic cups. Main dishes, such as beef with mushrooms, tomatoes and eggplant, chicken à la king, and ham are packed in flexible pouches. After heating, these pouches are cut open with scissors and the food is eaten directly from the containers using regular utensils.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/first-animals-to-ever-have-sex-were-not-what-you-would-have-expected-747574">First animals to ever have sex were not what you would have expected</a></p>

<h2><strong>Irradiated Foods</strong></h2>

<p>Similar to thermostabilised foods, these ready-to-eat meat items require only warming before consumption and are packaged in flexible pouches.</p>

<h2><strong>Natural Form Foods</strong></h2>

<p>These ready-to-eat items, including nuts, granola bars and cookies are packaged in flexible pouches for convenience.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, part of the Boeing Crew Flight Test mission on the International Space Station (ISS), have been stuck in space for more than 50 days due to a helium leak in their spacecraft's service module, delaying their mission.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, part of the Boeing Crew Flight Test mission on the International Space Station (ISS), have been stuck in space for more than 50 days due to a helium leak in their spacecraft's service module, delaying their mission. Extended time in microgravity poses various health risks to astronauts. Reports suggest that Williams is experiencing significant health challenges, particularly rapid bone density loss, similar to osteoporosis, as bones do not bear weight in microgravity. The crew also underwent detailed eye examinations to study the potential vision impacts of long-term space missions, focusing on the cornea, lens, and optic nerve. Also read | NASA warns 3 asteroids hurtling towards Earth will come closest on THIS day To mitigate bone loss, NASA utilises specific exercise routines and nutritional strategies. Astronauts engage in resistance and aerobic exercises to help maintain bone density. Nutrition is vital for astronaut health, with NASA providing a variety of space foods in different categories: Rehydratable Foods These items, including soups, casseroles and breakfast foods, have water removed before launch to save weight and are rehydrated with water generated on the shuttle. Also read | Moon has graphene in its soil. Here's all about this 'wonder material' Thermo-stabilised Foods These heat-processed items such as fruits, fish, and entrees are packaged in cans, plastic cups or retort pouches to ensure they are safe to eat. Most fruits and fish like tuna and salmon are canned using heat to keep them fresh. These cans come with easy-to-open lids. Puddings are put in plastic cups. Main dishes, such as beef with mushrooms, tomatoes and eggplant, chicken à la king, and ham are packed in flexible pouches. After heating, these pouches are cut open with scissors and the food is eaten directly from the containers using regular utensils. Also read | First animals to ever have sex were not what you would have expected Irradiated Foods Similar to thermostabilised foods, these ready-to-eat meat items require only warming before consumption and are packaged in flexible pouches. Natural Form Foods These ready-to-eat items, including nuts, granola bars and cookies are packaged in flexible pouches for convenience. (With inputs from agencies)

Sunita Williams suffers bone density loss: These are space food categories designed for optimal nutrition

<p>Consider yourself an out worldly cook? NASA may have the perfect job for you.&nbsp;The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is offering a whopping $500,000 to the winners of its "Deep Space Food Challenge". The victors will be required to cook meals for astronauts who will head to Mars.</p>

<p>The agency, in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency, is looking for people to come up with new technologies and apparatuses to feed astronauts embarking on space expeditions.<br />
<br />
<strong>Think it is an easy job? Think again</strong>.<br />
Astronauts require careful diets to keep them energised in the far reaches of the universe. Just recently, food researchers came up with a chocolate bar which carries high amounts of calories to ensure astronauts are high on energy. At the same time, the goal is to ensure the weight of food onboard space flights remains low.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/seven-minutes-of-terror-nasa-perseverance-rovers-landing-on-mars-explained-363582" hreflang="en">‘Seven minutes of terror’: Nasa Perseverance rover’s landing on Mars explained</a></p>

<p>Over the last few years, NASA has been exploring ways to grow fruits and vegetables in space to provide healthier food options to astronauts.</p>

<p><strong>What does the challenge aim to accomplish?</strong><br />
Scientists are looking at new ways to feed astronauts, especially the ones expected to head to Mars. The interstellar journey to Mars is roughly three years long, and requires its astronauts remain fit and equipped to deal with challenges new terrain on Mars might pose.</p>

<p>Besides providing healthy food to the voyagers, the aim of the mission is to produce new ways to grow food not only in space but in difficult terrains on Earth.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLHaMU0hMWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLHaMU0hMWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLHaMU0hMWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLHaMU0hMWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Deep Space Food Challenge (@deepspacefoodchallenge)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Think you have what it takes to keep our space voyagers healthy? You have until May 28 to sign up for the challenge. By July 30, the participants are expected to present their projects to the space agencies.<br />
<br />
<strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-releases-stunning-photo-of-gold-peruvian-amazon-rivers-363426" hreflang="en">NASA releases stunning photo of 'gold' Peruvian Amazon rivers</a></p>

<p>The top 20 teams will be the winners and will share half a million USD. In essence, every winner will get $25,000 each. But there's a catch - only people based in the US can avail the prize. Canadians too can sign up. Winners from Canada will receive between Canadian $30,000-380,000.</p>

<p>Not from North America? Fret not, for you can still apply and win, even if you will not receive the prize money.</p>


Consider yourself an out worldly cook? NASA may have the perfect job for you. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is offering a whopping $500,000 to the winners of its "Deep Space Food Challenge".

Consider yourself an out worldly cook? NASA may have the perfect job for you. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is offering a whopping $500,000 to the winners of its "Deep Space Food Challenge". The victors will be required to cook meals for astronauts who will head to Mars. The agency, in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency, is looking for people to come up with new technologies and apparatuses to feed astronauts embarking on space expeditions. Think it is an easy job? Think again. Astronauts require careful diets to keep them energised in the far reaches of the universe. Just recently, food researchers came up with a chocolate bar which carries high amounts of calories to ensure astronauts are high on energy. At the same time, the goal is to ensure the weight of food onboard space flights remains low. Also read: ‘Seven minutes of terror’: Nasa Perseverance rover’s landing on Mars explained Over the last few years, NASA has been exploring ways to grow fruits and vegetables in space to provide healthier food options to astronauts. What does the challenge aim to accomplish? Scientists are looking at new ways to feed astronauts, especially the ones expected to head to Mars. The interstellar journey to Mars is roughly three years long, and requires its astronauts remain fit and equipped to deal with challenges new terrain on Mars might pose. Besides providing healthy food to the voyagers, the aim of the mission is to produce new ways to grow food not only in space but in difficult terrains on Earth. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Deep Space Food Challenge (@deepspacefoodchallenge) × Think you have what it takes to keep our space voyagers healthy? You have until May 28 to sign up for the challenge. By July 30, the participants are expected to present their projects to the space agencies. Also read: NASA releases stunning photo of 'gold' Peruvian Amazon rivers The top 20 teams will be the winners and will share half a million USD. In essence, every winner will get $25,000 each. But there's a catch - only people based in the US can avail the prize. Canadians too can sign up. Winners from Canada will receive between Canadian $30,000-380,000. Not from North America? Fret not, for you can still apply and win, even if you will not receive the prize money.

NASA is offering $500,000 to cooks who can make other worldly meals for astronauts

space-food

Space Food, News on Space Food, stories on Space Food, articles on Space Food, Space Food stories at Wion, Space Food news, Space Food latest news