Quiz: Can You Guess the Foods That Went to Space?

Of the many physical and psychological challenges facing astronauts in space, one of the largest is getting a satisfying meal. For decades, NASA and other space agencies have spent millions developing, testing, and deploying certain kinds of food that are both edible and stable in space, where meal prep is difficult. (Rule one for space travel: No open flames in the cabin.)

See if you can tell which of these commercial and homegrown foods have been sent up into space in the quiz below:

While it may not be for all palates, space food has come a long way. In the 1960s, astronauts like John Glenn were chowing down on applesauce or pureed beef that came in a squeezable tube. Later, freeze-dried cubes and thermostabilized offerings widened the variety; the introduction of a refrigerator on missions in the 1970s helped usher in a broader menu. Conduction ovens also help astronauts to avoid the boredom of room-temperature foods.

Some space food is—dare we say it—good. “Astronaut food is great,” former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino told Mental Floss in 2023. “We had ravioli, lasagna, shrimp cocktail, fajitas. It was fantastic.”

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