In the weightless environment of space astronauts exerted less energy in
conducting their work than if they were on Earth. Gemini astronauts were
allotted 2500 calories a day during space missions, less than their normal
intake of 3000 calories. The food, which had 99 percent of the moisture
removed to reduce weight, had an average content of 17 percent protein,
32 percent fat, and 51 percent carbohydrates.
The first time solid food was eaten in space was on Gemini 3. Astronaut
John Young carried two meal packages to sample on his 5-hour mission. While
in orbit, Young
surprised fellow astronaut Virgil Grissom when he presented him
with a corned beef sandwich on rye, which had been purchased at a Cocoa
Beach, Fla., delicatessen. Grissom did not finish the sandwich, however,
because it was producing crumbs.
(Back to Apollo 11 Food)
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