India’s race to send a man to the moon by 2015 is fraught with odd innovation.

Having sent an unmanned probe to the Moon last November and being currently involved in a space race with China and Japan, India’s mission is a challenging one. Not the least of the hurdles confronting military scientists is the part of the mission involved in developing a curry fit for consumption by astronauts in orbit.

Although India is not the first nation to consider sending a tricky national delicacy into space, curry is probably the most challenging of all foods considered due to its spicy nature and high fat content.

“Curry tends to be spicy, high in fat content and uses many ingredients; all these factors present significant challenges. We cannot afford the stomach of an astronaut to be strained. Spicy meals are to be avoided because they can be hard to digest in zero gravity,” claims Dr. A.S. Bawa, the director of the Defense Food Research Laboratory.

Indian scientists want the best for their astronauts and to feed them familiar foods that will make them happy, but fiery foods and space missions are two pieces of a puzzle that don’t easily fit. Other astronauts have put in their two cents about food and its problems; some on the International Space Station have stated that their sense of taste has definitely changed over time, leaving them with cravings for tart dishes.

The snacks that space travelers are likely to miss and crave the most pose the biggest challenges for Dr. Bawa and his staff. He cites the example of the dosa, a crispy rice pancake that is fried, folded and often stuffed with a spicy potato filling. Whatever its appeal in its original state, all would surely be lost by its transformation into a re-hydrated alien goop to be consumed unappetizingly through a straw.

It would appear that there is a new frontier in space and it has nothing to do with interplanetary travel, at least not directly. The focus on cuisine and comfort and the attempt to make space travel a first-class experience are nice touches that represent more than a dash of appreciation for these intrepid explorers of another far away world where curry isn’t even dreamed of.

Here’s to fine cuisine in all galaxies everywhere!

(Link)

By MDeeDubroff on 21-05-2009