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November 27, 2025
Clams, oyster and more: ISS astronauts ditch Apollo-era Thanksgiving; enjoy special holiday meal – The Times of India
Clams, oyster and more: ISS astronauts ditch Apollo-era Thanksgiving; enjoy special holiday meal – The Times of India This Thanksgiving, astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) will enjoy a special holiday meal far beyond the traditional turkey salad once used during the Apollo era. Alongside turkey, they will have clams, oysters, crab meat, quail, [...]
**ISS Astronauts Feast on Gourmet Thanksgiving, Leaving Turkey Salad Behind**
For astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Thanksgiving this year will be a culinary experience far removed from the freeze-dried fare of decades past. While Apollo-era space travelers might have been content with turkey salad, the current ISS crew is set to indulge in a surprisingly lavish holiday feast, showcasing the advancements in space food technology.
Instead of a bland reminder of home, the astronauts will be treated to a selection of delicacies more akin to a fine dining experience than a typical space station meal. Alongside the traditional turkey, the menu boasts an array of seafood delights, including clams, oysters, and crab meat. This marks a significant departure from the limited options available to early space explorers, highlighting the progress in providing nutritious and palatable meals for long-duration space missions.
The inclusion of such diverse and perishable-sounding items raises questions about how these delicacies are prepared and preserved for space travel. While details remain scarce, it's likely that advanced preservation techniques, such as irradiation and specialized packaging, are employed to ensure food safety and longevity. These methods allow astronauts to enjoy a wider range of flavors and textures, contributing to their overall well-being and morale during extended stays in orbit.
Beyond the seafood offerings, the Thanksgiving menu also includes quail, suggesting a focus on providing a variety of protein sources. This is crucial for maintaining the astronauts’ health and physical condition in the challenging environment of space. The carefully curated menu reflects a growing understanding of the importance of food not only for sustenance but also for psychological comfort and connection to Earthly traditions.
While the exact details of the entire meal remain a mystery, the inclusion of clams, oysters, crab meat and quail alongside turkey signals a commitment to providing a memorable and satisfying Thanksgiving experience for the ISS crew. It's a testament to how far space travel has come, where even thousands of miles above Earth, astronauts can enjoy a taste of home – albeit a decidedly gourmet one.
For astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Thanksgiving this year will be a culinary experience far removed from the freeze-dried fare of decades past. While Apollo-era space travelers might have been content with turkey salad, the current ISS crew is set to indulge in a surprisingly lavish holiday feast, showcasing the advancements in space food technology.
Instead of a bland reminder of home, the astronauts will be treated to a selection of delicacies more akin to a fine dining experience than a typical space station meal. Alongside the traditional turkey, the menu boasts an array of seafood delights, including clams, oysters, and crab meat. This marks a significant departure from the limited options available to early space explorers, highlighting the progress in providing nutritious and palatable meals for long-duration space missions.
The inclusion of such diverse and perishable-sounding items raises questions about how these delicacies are prepared and preserved for space travel. While details remain scarce, it's likely that advanced preservation techniques, such as irradiation and specialized packaging, are employed to ensure food safety and longevity. These methods allow astronauts to enjoy a wider range of flavors and textures, contributing to their overall well-being and morale during extended stays in orbit.
Beyond the seafood offerings, the Thanksgiving menu also includes quail, suggesting a focus on providing a variety of protein sources. This is crucial for maintaining the astronauts’ health and physical condition in the challenging environment of space. The carefully curated menu reflects a growing understanding of the importance of food not only for sustenance but also for psychological comfort and connection to Earthly traditions.
While the exact details of the entire meal remain a mystery, the inclusion of clams, oysters, crab meat and quail alongside turkey signals a commitment to providing a memorable and satisfying Thanksgiving experience for the ISS crew. It's a testament to how far space travel has come, where even thousands of miles above Earth, astronauts can enjoy a taste of home – albeit a decidedly gourmet one.
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