ISS astronauts enjoy Thanksgiving feast
CBC News | Posted: November 27, 2014 8:12 PM | Last Updated: December 1, 2014
Future missions may be able to enjoy fresh sweet potatoes aboard ISS
They may be more than 400 kilometres above Earth, but astronauts aboard the International Space Station still enjoyed an American Thanksgiving meal on Thursday.
The six astronauts had a slightly less traditional version of turkey dinner.
Their Thanksgiving feast had more of what NASA called "space-food flair." It included:
- Irradiated smoked turkey.
- Thermostabilized candied yams.
- Freeze-dried green beans and mushrooms.
- Freeze-dried cornbread dressing.
Future astronauts may have one fresh Thanksgiving meal item to look forward to: sweet potatoes.
Astronauts aboard the ISS are experimenting with growing plants and the sweet potato is proving to be a good candidate for future astronauts to harvest on deep space missions. It's loaded with carbohydrates and beta-carotene, and adapts well to conditions in space.
This year, there's also thermostabilized cherry-blueberry cobbler for dessert.
No leftovers allowed
Astronauts also have the option to draw on some extra food for the holidays, said Vickie Kloeris, the food system manager for ISS in a NASA video.
Each crew member is provided with a bonus container with a small amount of food they specially requested.
NASA doesn't divulge what treats astronauts asked for, but Kloeris said in the past crew members who know they will be in space during the holidays have requested cranberry sauce or frosting for decorating cookies.
The one catch? No leftovers allowed.
"They can't keep leftovers on orbit, since we don't really have a refrigerator," said Kloeris. There is no dedicated freezer or refrigerator in orbit for food.
"They really have to either eat it or toss it because they don't have a way to preserve the leftovers."