How much coffee does it take to power a Moon mission? Artemis II astronauts have an oddly specific answer

Whether you are in space or on planet Earth, coffee remains the number one source of fuel. NASA's first crewed mission, Artemis II, was launched on April 1, and the astronauts on the Orion will be sustained on their 10-day mission by a thoughtfully curated list of "189 unique menu items," KUVE ABC reveals. NASA also shared a fun fact that the Artemis II crew would need 43 cups of coffee to "power" their mission around the moon. Besides coffee, the crew will also have access to 10 different types of beverages, various food items, desserts, culinary flavorings, and sauces.

All the food items on the Orion have been specifically selected with the help of space food experts. The crew's health, preferences, calorie requirements, hydration, and nutrient intake were kept in mind while planning the menu. The best part is that all the crew members have tried and tested the food items before going to space. While selecting the food, the experts also had to keep in mind the shelf life of the items. Since the astronauts will be in space for 10 days, and the food carried on the Orion is limited, and they are allowed to have two flavored beverages a day. 

The Artemis II menu is different from the food available on previous missions. There will be no fresh foods on the spacecraft, and the crew has to depend on a fixed but highly varied menu. The selected foods are also crumb-friendly to avoid creating a mess. Instead of bread, the food experts have replaced it with 58 tortillas. All the food items on the Orion are ready-to-eat. NASA also revealed that the items are "rehydratable, thermostabilized, or irradiated." The crew has to use the potable water dispenser to rehydrate their food. For heating their meals, they are given a "briefcase-style food warmer."

For those who are curious, the Artemis II menu consists of food items such as tortillas, wheat flat bread, vegetable quiche, breakfast sausage, couscous with blueberries, mango salad, broccoli au gratin, mac and cheese, butternut squash, and more. For beverages, aside from coffee, there are green tea, mango-peach smoothie, lemonade, apple cider, cocoa, and a few others. The food experts even selected five different types of hot sauces for the crew. They will also have access to maple syrup, chocolate spread, strawberry jam, almond butter, and honey.

A PubMed study revealed that astronauts require the same amount of energy they consume on Earth. However, the type of food they are eating in space greatly matters to avoid bone loss, vision problems, and other issues. According to the International Space Station (ISS) menu, 50% of the calories come from carbohydrates, 17% from protein, and 31% from fats. The meals are planned in such a way that they meet the nutrient requirements of the crew.

Netizens were extremely impressed by the food items that are on the Artemis II menu. Some people compared the menu to the food sailors had to eat years ago, while others say that the variety of items makes it look like they are going on a picnic, rather than a lunar mission. @triatempora commented, "189 unique menu items for a 10-day lunar trip is impressive. It's wild to think that ancient sailors survived months on hardtack and salted meat while our Moon crew gets brisket and mango smoothies. How much does each astronaut's personal taste influence the final menu selection?"

@RDMBKS criticized one item on the menu. They wrote, "Quiche? One wrong move and that 'crust' is going to be a floating choking hazard. Good luck with the cleanup! Let’s be real — it doesn't matter how fancy it sounds, it’s still coming out of a pouch like baby food."

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