Proof What Does Space Taste Like?
Oct 31, 2024
Julie Carley, an investigative reporter, dives into the fascinating world of foods made for and inspired by outer space. She discusses the history of space snacks and the challenges of early space eating, including freeze-drying techniques. Beth Stallings, director at Jenny's Ice Cream, shares insights on creating whimsical, space-themed flavors like Purple Starborn and Cosmic Bloom. The conversation explores the resurgence of interest in space foods and the balance between innovation and commercial motivations, all while tasting the essence of the cosmos.
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Space Food Began With Practical Constraints
- Early space food prioritized safety and transportability over taste, shaping many commercial products we now associate with space.
- Tang and freeze-dried items became iconic because they met NASA's shelf-stable, vitamin-packed needs.
The Smuggled Corned Beef Sandwich
- Early space meals were toothpaste-like purees and compressed cubes to prevent crumbs in spacecraft.
- An astronaut famously smuggled a corned beef sandwich on Gemini, prompting congressional concern about crumbs.
Marketing Space Without NASA Endorsement
- Commercial brands leveraged the space craze for marketing without NASA endorsement by renaming items for official use.
- Space-themed products blurred real astronaut provisions and consumer fantasies.