What will the NASA Artemis II moon astronauts have to eat?

      NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, are less than 24 hours away from their upcoming moon flight.

      The Artemis II mission is set to launch from Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, April 1. After NASA's powerful SLS rocket propels the crew into space, they will spend approximately a day in Earth's orbit reviewing the Orion spacecraft's systems before adjusting their path and heading toward the moon.

      This mission does not include landing on the lunar surface. Instead, the astronauts will orbit the moon before returning home, with the entire journey anticipated to take around 10 days.

      So, what kind of food will sustain the crew throughout this remarkable journey?

      The meal options are created to promote crew health and performance, and since there will be no resupply or refrigeration, all food must be shelf-stable and easily prepared and eaten within the spacecraft.

      “Food selections are created in collaboration with space food specialists and the crew to balance calorie requirements, hydration, and nutrient intake while considering individual crew preferences,” NASA stated in a post regarding the Artemis II mission meals.

      Menu items range from tortillas, vegetable quiche, and mango salad to nuts, macaroni and cheese, and tropical fruit salad. During their trip to and from the moon, the astronauts can also enjoy snacks such as granola with blueberries, barbecued beef brisket, and spicy green beans.

      Beverage options include coffee, green tea, mango-peach smoothies, lemonade, and cocoa. Although it might seem fitting to toast a lunar flyby with champagne, no alcohol will be included on the Orion.

      The food selections represent a significant improvement over what the last group of Apollo astronauts encountered — or had to endure — during their lunar missions more than fifty years ago.

      At that time, astronaut food was limited and often unappetizing, primarily consisting of bite-sized cubes, freeze-dried powders, and tube-packaged meals with minimal variety or texture. In contrast, the Artemis II crew members benefit from decades of advancements — largely influenced by experiences on the International Space Station — allowing them to enjoy both tastier and more nutritious food.

      NASA plans to utilize insights gained from the Artemis II mission to enhance understanding of how astronauts eat and manage food effectively in a confined spacecraft, with the outcomes aiding preparations for future longer-duration crewed missions to deep space.

      Interested in watching a livestream of the Artemis II crew's launch on their historic mission from Florida’s Space Coast on Wednesday? Digital Trends has you covered.