Harmless Space Travel - Vegans In Space

The vegan diet has been around for over 2, 000 years. However, being vegan is as convenient as it has ever been. Personally, it is a life changing decision that has many benefits to your body and the environment. There are hundreds of options to choose from when it comes to what foods are allowed. There is a substitute for almost every animal product there is to consume. That list includes alternative milks, soy meats, and desserts made with plant based proteins.

To explain the definition of what the definition of vegan is, PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals explains, “Vegan diets do not consume meat, dairy, eggs, honey, or any animal derived product” (PETA). This typically means that a vegan chooses not to wear products made of animal remains. Now that we know the definition, is this diet sustainable for astronauts traveling in space? Is it better for the logistics of the flight, to send vegan foods rather than animal derived perishables? Yes, it is possible for vegans to travel in space due to the advancement of resources and is cheaper than animal derived commodities. The question of whether a vegan diet is sustainable for space travel is answered with the creation of artificial meats and the advancement of resources. According to the former BBC magazine editor Timon Singh, he stated, “NASA’s Advanced Food Technology (ATF) division/team]has created a 100 vegan inspired menus for the six to eight men crew flight to Mars” (Inhabitat).

To further explain, NASA has planned a mission to MARS in 2030 and the astronauts will eat an entirely vegan diet throughout the exploration. NASA has experimented with a variety of dishes that provide astronauts their proper nourishments, but also provide realistic transportation. These meals include ice cream, “meat” based dishes, and refreshments. Even though this may sound easy, the ATF’s mission is to prepare enough food to last three years until agriculture on Mars is achievable. However, with the advancement of botany, this is feasible. Astronauts are now able to grow their own vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, and arugula. In doing so, they are making their exploration much more sustainable.

In an interview with Alan Yuhas, an editor for the Guardian, interviewed NASA’s Tabatha Thompson and she stated, “Growing food will be crucial for long duration space flight” (Guardian). Having vegan dishes are not only feasible, but better for the logistics of long duration space travel. A vegan diet is more than possible in terms of logistics during long duration space travel. Due to the gradual advancements of space cultivation, storing and preserving animal products are deemed more expensive and difficult. When talking about the planned space exploration to Mars, Utah State University Professor Bruce Bugbee stated, “It takes two years to get food from the Earth to Mars” he continued by saying “that supply line is slow and costly. So new newly arrived astronauts will need to generate their own food, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure”.

Preserving meat and dairy for months would not be obtainable in means of long distance space travel, especially if the goal is to create a community. In addition to food preservation, space and cost factor in the sustainability of animal products. Those products have to be stored and cannot be grown. It is estimated to cost around $10, 000 per pound of supplies to be launched in space (Mary-Ann Muffoletto, Utah State University). To stay within budget regarding food, NASA has turned to alternative methods of feeding astronauts by adopting lower cost alternatives and cultivating menus made of plants.

Not only has NASA made veganism possible in space, but they are looking towards the future of nutrition. The science that is used in the exploration of Mars can be used in ways to help people in need on Earth. For example, in developing nations who struggle with consistent cultivation, can now adopt these new methods to introduce a more diverse diet. The 2, 000 year old diet is beneficial on Earth and has many opportunities when it comes to space travel. A vegan diet is not only possible, but it is sustainable in terms of long duration space travel.