It took two years of work the menu of the astronauts, and it will be unique and specific to each of them. The Italian company Argotec, the only responsible for the space food menu of the European Space Agency (ESA), has recently renewed the traditional meals and pills replacing them with new proposals. It listed a menu including rice, tuna, salad and a cup of coffee at the end of the meal.
The food will be cooked by Chef Stefano Polato, Campiello restaurant Monselice (PD), while Russian and American astronauts ate quite normal food menu still in use.
NASA has said space food must be easy to prepare and eat, and usually has lower fat, fewer calories and less salt. Considering that in space the body ages faster because of microgravity, the antioxidant properties have been the favourite choice.
In the choice of foods to bring in space, culinary tradition has embraced the conservation of biodiversity. The project has been married by Slow Food which has made available its so called presidi, among which were chosen Ustica lentils, the Piattella canavesana, Carpinus fava beans and black chickpeas of Murgia classic. The diet has also been specially drawn up in collaboration with some nutritionists
What is missing? Coffee. Argotec and Lavazza have devised a machine to provide coffee break in orbit: the system uses the capsules and the beverage is drinking through a straw. ISSpresso also is able to make tea, herbal tea and broth.