The spacecraft with the astronauts of the STARLINER TEST Flight and the mission Crew-9 He landed on Earth on Tuesday night (18), after nine months at the International Space Station (ISS). Since they returned to our planet, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore They went through a series of medical care in a standard procedure for long -term missions.
In addition to physical evaluation and the reconditioning program, astronauts will return to their usual diet on Earth. This is because, during the period in space, professionals undergo adaptations in the diet, with higher pre-prepared meal consumption and chemically treated to extend their service life.
Then know the particularities of meals made in space and care for food when returning to Earth.
Spatial diet
According to the Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG)In the past, space food was mainly dehydrated or supplied in pastes or pipes. Today, with the advancement of science and technology, it is possible for astronauts to feed similarly to the meals made on Earth.
Overall, foods sent to space are divided into the following groups, according to RMG:
- Fresh food : fruits and vegetables, which are refrigerated aboard the spacecraft and consumed quickly, within two days;
- Irradiated foods : meat and dairy products that have ionizing radiation applied to them before packaging, which increases the life of food;
- Foods with intermediate humidity : who have a small amount of water to limit microbial growth; These are salty or sun-dried foods that do not require additional preparation;
- Natural Foods : nuts, cookies and chocolate bars are packed and ready for consumption;
- Rehydratable foods and drinks : water from food and drink is removed to hinder the multiplication of bacteria; These products have returned water when astronauts are ready to eat;
- Thermostabilized foods : Thermal treatment to prepare ready meals, where bacteria are killed by applying heat.
Terrestrial diet
According to NASA spokesman Steve Steve Steve, as soon as astronauts reach Earth, it is important to ingest large amounts of fluids.
“Drinking many liquids while they are in space, during the descent and right after the landing really helps in adapting to gravity,” says Solooff to CNN .
Regarding food, it is essential that astronauts consume calcium -rich foods and proteins, as during the period in space they may lose bone density and muscle mass. This happens as a consequence of microgravity.
According to NASA, the body of astronauts can experience the reduction of up to one third in the size of muscle fibers in less than two weeks. In a single month in space, an astronaut can also lose up to 1.5% of its bone mass.
In addition, astronauts will have access to fresh foods such as vegetables, fruits and vegetables, which can also be useful in recovery because they offer a wide variety of nutrients and vitamins.
Astronauts will never be able to land on the largest planet in the solar system
Was this content originally published in what astronauts eat upon returning to Earth? on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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