Now This is a Kitchen Nightmare! Female Italian Astronaut Shows How Difficult it is to Make a Meal in Space
- as Her Ingredients Float Away from Her
- Samantha Cristoforetti is currently on the International Space Station
- The astronaut got to take 'bonus food' with her for psychological reasons
- Samantha knocked up a quinoa, tomato, mackerel and leek cream tortilla
- She managed to stop some floating food but a piece of mackerel got away
Daily Mail UK, 9 June 2015
A European Space Agency astronaut has demonstrated how to make a meal in space – and the results are amazing.
Samantha Cristoforetti, who is currently on board the International Space Station for her long duration mission Futura, recorded herself eating some ‘bonus food’ she was allowed to bring with her.
According to the ESA, comfort food is an important item in space for psychological reasons.
The ESA said food that floats away is pulled towards a ventilation grid and removed during a cleaning round
And astronauts are allowed to take a certain amount of their favourite food with them – ingredients that remind them of the tastes of home.
In the clip, Samantha demonstrates assembling a bonus meal in microgravity and knocks up a quinoa salad with dried tomatoes, mackerel and leek cream, all wrapped in a warm tortilla.
The ESA astronaut and Italian Air Force captain begins by opening the packet of tortillas, taking one out and leaving it to float in front of her.
Samantha Cristoforetti is currently living on board the International Space Station for a mission named Futura
She then fills the tortillas with the numerous food items, making sure to pack each ingredient into the previous one to stop it from floating away.
Occasionally bits of food can be seen drifting off but Samantha manages to rescue all but one piece of mackerel that gets away.
In the YouTube video’s comments section, the ESA explained what happens to the bits of escaped food.
It will get pulled towards a ventilation grid and be cleaned up on the Saturday morning cleaning round,’ wrote the ESA.
‘Alternatively, it could make for a tasty snack for someone as it floats past.’
The video concludes with Samantha adding the final ingredient and wrapping the tightly packed tortilla in her hand.
She then takes a bite and gives the camera a thumb's up.
Bits of food can be seen drifting away but Samantha manages to rescue all but one piece of mackerel
Cooking in Space: Mackerel, Quinoa and Leek Cream Tortilla