Probably every boy in his childhood dreamed of becoming an astronaut to fly to distant stars and a colony on Mars.As adults, these guys acquire different professions, but hardly among them, there is one who does not want to know what food the astronauts.
life on the space station
Some people still realize his childhood dream and get the job done on the ISS.Formally, an astronaut could be anyone, not just the military pilot as before.The determining factor - the state of health to withstand the overload and maintain the presence of mind in difficult conditions.Now began to develop space tourism industry, that is even quite far from the science man can get to the ISS, simply by paying the appropriate amount.In general, it is also a way to fulfill a childhood dream.
The main difficulty for the people involved in the space, is that in a state of weightlessness becomes very difficult to perform some seemingly simple and familiar activities.Eat, sleep, write a note, comb hair, brush your teeth - it all turns into a non-trivial task.
habitual actions
series of entertaining video about how difficult life of astronauts, took off and put on a popular resource Youtube Chris Hadfield Canadian, who worked on the ISS in 2012-2013.In particular, he addressed the unusual activities such as shaving, cooking, sleeping, brushing your teeth, playing the guitar, hand washing, nail clippers and so on. E., If all this is happening in space.His channel has gained thousands of fans, and in the wake of this success, a similar video shot Samantha Cristoforetti, demonstrating how the astronauts wash their head and take a shower.It looks very unusual and funny, because earthlings difficult to understand what it is - to live in a state of weightlessness.
Sleep
ISS consists of several compartments, but this is not the room, as in a normal house.Most of the equipment takes place, so there is simply no place to hold several bedrooms.The astronauts have a special compartment where the cubbyhole in which float their sleeping bags.Climbing inside, it fastens on the zipper and just fall asleep.As they themselves admit, at first very unusual fact that it is not necessary to put your head on the pillow, but then it becomes commonplace.
Power
And here is the most interesting.All liquids in zero gravity take the form of a ball.And from any touch can crumble into thousands of small bubbles, which then have to catch a vacuum cleaner.Therefore, from the beginning the power of astronauts is not a trivial task.However, the efforts of many scientists around the world it has been solved, and the result was even five decades of a certain development.So, the name of the food of cosmonauts and that she like now?
Most of it is thought of as maloappetitnuyu muck in tubes, which are the dream of all the boys and some adults.But it is not too important for our time.Researchers are doing quite well in weightlessness sandwiches from the special bread that does not crumble, as popular canned and dried using a special technology products, which should be diluted before use with water.The aim is to reduce the weight of the food, and its volume, because each kilogram of cargo delivery is 5-10 thousand dollars.The quality and taste characteristics did not suffer.For a long time, almost 70% of American astronauts menu consisted of semi-finished products, but now they became smaller, and the replacement of all came the same freeze-dried products.
But some scientists still prefer to bring your favorite delicacies - if not openly, then at least secretly.He is not always possible.Although when in space working Japanese, they were fed according to their usual menu: sushi, green tea, noodle soup, and so on. D. The French took into orbit truffles, and one even wanted to take with cheese, but it itnot allowed to do, for fear that it would upset the biological environment at the station.But, fortunately, the food the astronauts in tubes - not the only thing that is available today with modern conquerors of the universe.On the ISS permanently available fresh fruits and vegetables, and in the case of special requests, you can always ask to bring something delicious.However, the problem is the tea - it is possible to obtain not always.
diet
scientists who are on the ISS, it is necessary to eat in a special way, because they have such loads that are unfamiliar to those who live in conditions of gravity.The body is rebuilt and its needs change.In addition, the food for them should be balanced, varied and delicious, and convenient for use in such unusual circumstances.
This problem first became relevant to Gagarin's flight in 1961.And then at the Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences was established by a private laboratory, whose task was the food of astronauts in space.She still works for half a century and has made a big step forward.
first food in tubes tried himself Yuri Gagarin.He had meat and chocolate, previously tested by pilots.The second was German Titov, an eating space three times.His menu consisted of pate, soup and fruit compote.And he returned to the ground, admitted that he feels weak from hunger.
Then scientists think not only of form, but also on the content: the food should be easy enough nourishing and high-calorie, well absorbed by the body, but it is delicious and varied.Russia now produces about 250 kinds of products, prepared for use in zero gravity, so that we can say, the problem is solved, the menu can be compared with that offered the best restaurants.Moreover, all products are further enriched with calcium, as life in space have a negative effect on the bone and musculoskeletal system.
as food gets on the ISS?
Modern mission long enough.Often, the astronauts carried out in orbit for about a year, but the store stocks all the time on the ISS is simply nowhere.Fortunately, the station regularly sent the shuttle delivering payloads something uvozyaschih with him on the ground, and sometimes researchers and takes home, bringing new.
So, a few months ago, after several failed launch Russian rockets launched from Baikonur, the astronauts began running out of food.Of course, the situation was not critical, and later the food was brought to them.
Menu future
Given the ambitious plans by NASA in the near future to send an expedition to Mars for its colonization, is now becoming especially relevant question is not the preparation of food in the world, and its cultivation in space.Researchers working on the ISS including over the challenge.Well technology, which prepared food for the astronauts, at the moment, seems to have reached its ceiling.Dehydrate even cottage cheese, which is enjoyed by the inhabitants of the International Space Station in high demand, since even after the treatment, he does not lose its flavor.
Where to try it?
Food astronauts for children and adults who are interested in this issue, recently available.The choice has 11 dishes, the price of one tube is 300 rubles.All the food is completely natural, does not contain flavor enhancers, preservatives and GMOs, which is due to some peculiarities in principle, can not contain the food for astronauts.At the Exhibition Center, which regained its old name, from about February, it went on sale.The legendary pavilion number 32, you can buy a set of "astronaut food", which will be tubes with the first, main course or dessert.According to the organizers of the exhibition, all the food is completely authentic one that researchers take with them on the ISS.It is expected that soon will also vending machines for this meal - so demand it enjoys.May expand and menus.
