Freeze-dried ice cream
Freeze-dried ice cream, also known as astronaut ice cream[1] or space ice cream is a brick of dehydrated ice cream that is always ready to eat, with no need for refrigeration. It was developed by Whirlpool Corporation under contract to NASA for the Apollo missions.[2]
Apollo 7 in 1968 was the only NASA mission on which space ice cream flew in outer space.[3] According to a NASA food scientist, although it was developed on request, "It wasn't that popular."[4] Skylab had a refrigerator that was used for real ice cream.[5], and occasionally shuttle and International Space Station astronauts have enjoyed real ice cream.[6]
Freeze drying (or lyophilization) removes water from the ice cream by lowering the air pressure to a point where ice shifts from a solid to a gas. The ice cream is placed in a vacuum chamber and frozen until the water crystallizes. The air pressure is lowered, creating a partial vacuum, forcing air out of the chamber; next heat is applied, vaporizing the ice; finally a freezing coil traps the vaporized water. This process continues for hours, resulting in a freeze-dried ice cream slice.
Freeze-dried foods were developed so that foods could be sent on long-duration spaceflights, as to the Moon, and to reduce the weight of the water and oxygen normally found in food.[2]
Freeze-dried ice cream is ubiquitous in science museum giftshops, sometimes accompanied by other freeze-dried foods such as ice-cream sandwiches, various sliced fruits, and even pizza. It is even sold by mail-order, and is a "top five seller" at the Kennedy Space Center gift shop.[7]
See also
References
- ^ This phrase is also a trademark of American Outdoor Products, Inc. [1]
- ^ a b "Space Food" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 2007-06-07. The license is now held by Action Products International, Inc.
- ^ "NASA Spinoff homepage". NASA. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
- ^ "A Holiday Dinner in Space". NASA. December 15 2005. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "History of Food in Space". NASA. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
- ^ "Orbital Ice Cream, Atlantis' ISS Surprise". LiveScience.com. September 16, 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
- ^ "Astronaut Ice Cream -- Cookies and Cream". Kennedy Space Center. Retrieved 2007-06-07.