Food is fuel. It has the unique power to keep us energized, focused, and connected to the traditions and people that matter to us. However, when living in space, astronauts have limited tools and ingredients available to prepare appetizing and comforting meals.
As the first all-private astronaut crew to travel to the International Space Station, the Ax-1 crew is charting new territory in space travel, exploration, and cuisine. To prepare the crew for the 10-day mission, we teamed up with Chef José Andrés of ThinkFoodGroup, a brand that shares our ethos of spurring innovations and striving for excellence. The collaboration arose from the friendship between Chef Andrés and fellow Spaniard and veteran astronaut Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría.
In the months leading up to the flight, Ax-1 crew members took part in sensory tests with Chef Andrés and members of the ThinkFoodGroup culinary team. These tests helped the ThinkFoodGroup team to devise meals well-suited to the astronauts’ dietary preferences. The Axiom and ThinkFoodGroup teams worked closely with scientists in the NASA Food Lab to ensure the items meet nutrition and preparation guidelines.
The specially crafted meals lean on flavors and traditional dishes of Commander López-Alegría’s native Spain. For their first meal in space, Ax-1 astronauts will enjoy Arroz Estelle Valencia, a classic Spanish rice dish. Later in the mission, the crew will eat Secreto de Cerdo with Pisto, a prized cut of Ibérico Pork with tomatoes, onions, eggplant, and peppers, and Chicken and Mushroom Paella, Spain's quintessential rice dish.
ThinkFoodGroup also partnered with Spanish food brands Fermín and Albert Adrià to provide the astronauts with a selection of ham and almond snacks.
While pre-packaged foods like nutrition bars travel easily to space, more substantial meals must be carefully prepared. The crew’s meals will be thermostabilized, or processed with heat and properly sealed, to prevent pathogen growth. However, these meals are sure to retain their bold, delicious flavors, even as they travel more than 250 miles away from home.
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