Food in space: Astronauts binge on brownies, seafood while pizzas are still being perfected

While scientists and experts make unfettered efforts towards finding an alternative planet for habitation, space travel continues to baffle astronomy enthusiasts and laymen alike.

After NASA experts and astronauts successfully forayed into space, the prolonged human stay outside the 'familiar' and 'habitable' realm of the Earth was contemplated.

In December 2015, Tim Peake became the first Briton in space for more than 20 years on board the International Space Station (ISS).

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Peake's life and his struggles, almost 400 kilometres above the Earth, are widely documented and written about. From the technology that made his 'nearly alien-like experience' not only just hospitable but also bearable, to techniques that made his stay a safe and healthy one -- every aspect of his life 'away from home' has been studied, almost still under a close scrutiny.

Interestingly, and not surprisingly, space food is very much a category in itself. After all, food (just like water and oxygen) holds the utmost importance for human survival.

Ahead, we take a quick look at what 'eating' and 'preparing' food in space is all about -- how it is constantly restructured to fit an astronaut's dietary requirement -- to qualify the standards of weight, nutrition and of course, palatability.

NASA's official website states interesting facts about 'eating in space', how eating or preparing food in space is not similar to the Earth.

The supply

Some foods, like brownies and fruits, can be eaten in their natural form.

"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 a longer mission," noted the website.

While condiments like as ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise are available, salt and pepper are always available in liquid form simply because nothing can be sprinkled in space, it simply floats away.

"There is a danger they could clog air vents, contaminate equipment or get stuck in an astronaut's eyes, mouth or nose," noted NASA.

The meals

Astronauts eat three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their meals are tailormade and cleared by certified nutritionists to ensure that they don't fall deficient in essential nutrients and minerals crucial for their survival in space.

"Calorie requirements differ for astronauts. For instance, a small woman would require only about 1,900 calories a day, while a large man would require about 3,200 calories," explains NASA.

While an astronaut can choose from a variety of foods ranging from fruits, nuts, chicken, beef, seafood, candy, brownies, the available options for drinks and beverages include coffee, tea, orange juice, fruit punches and lemonade.

The packing

Space food is typically packaged in disposable packing. Astronauts are directed to throw away the packages after they are done eating. Food for space is packaged in a way to avoid spoilage, preventing them from flying away.

"The food packaging is designed to be flexible and easier to use, as well as to maximize space when storing or disposing of food containers," as mentioned on the official website.

Plates and wrappers are disposable. The cutlery is usually used again -- not washed but wiped clean using wet wipes.

The challenges

Among few things that simply don't get well with space's environment include soft drinks -- because of microgravity. Ice cream would need freezers that's why they are ruled out while pizzas "have not been perfected yet. Beyond that, astronauts can eat anything you might order from a typical menu."

Thanks to technological innovations, space food is now way better than what it was years ago, there were times when astronauts used to eat "dried food from metal tubes that squeezed out like toothpaste. It was not very tasty. Space food has become more like the food we eat on Earth."

In one of the features published on NASA's website, Vickie Kloeris, sub-system manager for the International Space Station food aptly notes, "Astronauts are people, they have likes and dislikes and we try to meet their preferences."

He noted that astronauts are now staying in space for longer and need tasty nutritious meals, something which is now close to achieving a level of perfection, however, the Space Station pizza party may still be a dream yet to come true.