Out of This World

HoneyBars in Space

We all knew that the taste of HoneyBar’s is out of this world. Well actually, the HoneyBar Trail Mix is now in Space, on board the International Space Station. HoneyBar products is honored to be picked as a snack for Chris Hadfield & the 2 other astronauts on board.

Eating in Space

Inside a Space Ship

Like many other activities in space, eating requires some special considerations. While orbiting around the Earth, astronauts live and work in microgravity so crumbs and dry foods (such as powders and condiments) float and, if not contained, can contaminate the environment.

Several practical solutions exist to overcome the challenges of eating in weightlessness. Astronauts consume mostly wet and sticky foods such as oatmeal, scrambled eggs, puddings and stews because they stick to an eating utensil long enough for the astronaut to put into their mouth. Foods like bread are rejected because they produce crumbs that can float around; tortillas, on the other hand, are perfect for eating in freefall. Salt and pepper are also consumed, but the salt must be dissolved into water and the pepper suspended in oil.

What do Astronauts Eat in Space?

In terms of meal choice, astronauts have a wide variety of options for what they eat and drink. Since there are no refrigerators or freezers on shuttle or the International Space Station (ISS), foods are processed and packaged in ways that will ensure they last for the entire mission. Space-bound foods come in one of six forms

Fresh (must be eaten within the first few days in space) e.g. apples, oranges
Intermediate Moisture e.g. dried apricots, dried beef, HoneyBar Trail Mix bars
Irradiated e.g. beefsteak
Natural Form e.g. tortillas, cashews
Rehydratable e.g. oatmeal with raisins, teriyaki vegetables
Thermostabilized e.g. tuna salad spread, split pea soup