NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore recently returned to Earth after an unexpectedly long 284-day mission aboard the International Space Station or ISS. The two brilliant astronauts faced unique dietary challenges during their extended stay. Despite being stranded in space for over nine months, the astronauts maintained a varied diet throughout their mission.
What Did Sunita Williams And Butch Wilmore Eat On ISS
According to reports, they initially enjoyed access to fresh produce, though these supplies depleted within the first three months. After this period, Williams and Wilmore relied primarily on packaged and freeze-dried food options.
Their meals included everyday items with a space-travel twist. Breakfast often consisted of cereals with powdered milk, while main meals featured pizza, roast chicken and shrimp cocktails. Tuna was also part of their menu rotation.
An image released by NASA on 9 September showed the pair sharing a meal together on the ISS, demonstrating their adapted dining habits. Food preparation in the microgravity environment followed specific protocols.
What They Ate When Fresh Food Ran Out
All meat and eggs were pre-cooked on Earth and simply required reheating in space. For dehydrated foods such as soups and casseroles, the astronauts reconstituted them using water from the ISS’s impressive 530-gallon freshwater tank – a system that remarkably recycles astronauts’ urine and sweat into potable water.
Despite concerns about weight loss, specialists clarified this wasn’t due to food scarcity. Each astronaut received approximately 3.8 pounds of food daily, with additional supplies available for unexpected mission extensions like theirs. NASA medical staff carefully monitored their calorie intake throughout to maintain optimal health.
Upon returning to Earth on 18 March via SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, Williams revealed her first meal was a simple grilled cheese sandwich – a choice that reminded her of her vegetarian father rather than the Indian cuisine many might have expected.
Now undergoing rehabilitation in Houston, Williams has expressed nothing but positivity about her experience, stating she would “go back in a heartbeat” despite the challenges.
Cover Image Credits: @SimranbaggaOffc and Canva Pro Images
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.