NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, 59, and Butch Wilmore, 61, were initially scheduled to spend eight days on the International Space Station (ISS). However, due to technical malfunctions with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, their mission has unexpectedly stretched to five months.
This extended stay has raised curiosity among space enthusiasts about their diet and well-being. Concerns about Williams’ health grew after NASA released images where she appeared thinner, with noticeably sunken cheeks.
What Do Astronauts Eat in Space?
A specialist involved in the Starliner mission told The New York Post that the astronauts’ diet includes a mix of freeze-dried and packaged meals. Options such as breakfast cereal with powdered milk, pizza, shrimp cocktails, roast chicken, and tuna are part of their menu. However, fresh fruits and vegetables are in limited supply.
The ISS typically receives fresh produce only once every three months. In the meantime, astronauts rely on packaged or freeze-dried alternatives to meet their nutritional needs.
Food Preparation in Space
Meals on the ISS are tailored to meet the individual calorie and nutrient requirements of astronauts. Since food must be pre-cooked on Earth, items like meat and eggs are reheated in space. Dehydrated soups, stews, and casseroles require water from the station’s 530-gallon fresh water tank. Using magnetized trays and metal utensils, astronauts like Williams and Wilmore prepare their own meals onboard.
NASA’s medical team is closely monitoring the astronauts’ health to ensure they are consuming enough calories. The specialist emphasized that food supplies are sufficient to sustain even extended missions:
“Nothing is left to chance, and that includes their food. So to be accurate, it should be very clear that any weight loss is not due to a lack of provisions on the ISS. There is plenty of food, even for an extended mission.”
A SpaceX flight is scheduled to bring the astronauts back to Earth in February 2025. Until then, NASA remains vigilant in overseeing their health and nutrition to ensure their prolonged stay on the ISS is manageable.
