{"id":5900,"date":"2026-04-05T20:43:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/?p=5900"},"modified":"2026-04-05T20:43:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:43:15","slug":"mac-and-cheese-for-artemis-ii-crew-nasa-says-dont-worry-space-has-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/?p=5900","title":{"rendered":"Mac and cheese for Artemis II crew? NASA says, \u2018Don\u2019t worry \u2014 space has it\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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During its ongoing\u00a0Artemis II\u00a0mission,\u00a0NASA\u00a0shared a glimpse of daily life aboard the\u00a0Orion spacecraft\u00a0on Sunday (April 5, 2026). A video released on social media shows astronauts floating inside the capsule while enjoying a meal \u2014 a small but meaningful reminder of home millions of kilometres away.\u00a0<\/p>

The footage features commander\u00a0Reid Wiseman, mission specialist\u00a0Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut\u00a0Jeremy Hansen\u00a0dining in microgravity as Orion continues its historic lunar test flight.\u00a0<\/p>

In its post, NASA reassured curious viewers:\u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0worry:\u00a0space has mac and cheese.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

Don’t worry: space has mac and cheese.<\/p>

Food aboard Orion must be easy to prepare and consume in microgravity, minimize crumbs, and remain safe and stable throughout the mission. The crew provided input well before the meals were packed for the test flight. pic.twitter.com\/FLDaK9owYq<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote> <\/div>

The agency explained that food aboard Orion must be specially designed to work in weightlessness \u2014 easy to prepare, safe to store, and most importantly,\u00a0crumb-free.\u00a0<\/p>

Why eating in microgravity is a challenge<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>

In space, the simple act of eating becomes a technical challenge. Astronauts experience\u00a0microgravity, a condition where objects appear\u00a0nearly weightless\u00a0because gravity is extremely weak.\u00a0<\/p>

Without gravity, food does not stay on a plate. Everything \u2014 meals, sauces, and drinks \u2014 floats.\u00a0<\/p>

To manage this, astronauts store food in\u00a0sealed plastic or metallic pouches. Most dishes are freeze-dried and must be rehydrated before eating.\u00a0<\/p>

Veteran space traveller Christina Koch, who previously spent\u00a0nearly a\u00a0year aboard the\u00a0International Space Station, explained that the process usually involves adding water to freeze-dried meals before heating them.\u00a0<\/p>

The biggest rule: no crumbs\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

One of the strictest requirements for space food is\u00a0eliminating\u00a0crumbs.\u00a0<\/p>

A crusty loaf of bread might seem harmless on Earth, but in orbit tiny particles float freely inside the spacecraft. These crumbs can drift into astronauts\u2019 eyes or get sucked into electrical systems, potentially damaging sensitive equipment.\u00a0<\/p>

For that reason, meals such as\u00a0spicy green beans and macaroni\u00a0shown in the Artemis II video are designed to stay compact and crumb-free.\u00a0<\/p>

A surprisingly rich menu<\/strong><\/p>

The food aboard Orion was not randomly chosen. The four astronauts \u2014\u00a0Reid Wiseman,\u00a0Victor Glover,\u00a0Christina Koch, and\u00a0Jeremy Hansen\u00a0\u2014 personally selected and taste-tested their menu long before launch.\u00a0<\/p>

According to NASA, the spacecraft carries\u00a0189 packaged food and beverage items, carefully balanced for calories, hydration, and nutrition.\u00a0<\/p>

The menu includes:\u00a0<\/p>