Better Space Chow! Astronauts are subjected to harsh conditions, but imagine harsh it could get while being subjected to stale, tasteless food month after month! As space travel is moving towards long duration space missions, NASA is looking into research that could lead to more nutritious and more palatable food for astronauts. NASA will also work to improve the packaging, preparation, and storage of the food. Items that will be carried to the International Space Station, for example, need to be lightweight, require little storage space, and produce little waste. Advanced food technologies are essential for successful long-duration missions. NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas will sponsor the National Food Technology Commercial Space Center where food technologies will be developed. The improvements in the shelf life and safety of food for space flight will, of course, lead to similar improvements in commercially produced and packaged food available to the public. The five year, $2.8 cooperative agreement for the new Center is expected to be awarded in September, 1999. Astronauts get to sample foods and choose their own menus for missions from a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items. Image: The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) For more information, check out the NASA Commercial Technology Network.

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