Like on Earth

Like on Earth, nutrition plays a key role in maintaining the health and optimal performance of astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight. Unique aspects of nutrition during space travel include astronauts’ physiological adaptation to weightlessness, psychological adaptation to extreme and remote environments, and the ability of nutrients helping to ameliorate the negative effects of space flight on the body.

Areas of nutritional concern for long-duration missions include loss of body mass, bone and muscle loss, increased radiation exposure, nutrient supply during extravehicular activity, and depletion of body nutrients because of inadequate food supply.

Food flown on-orbit is not only required to be nutritious, it must be appetizing. Food plays a critical social and psychological role during an astronaut’s stay on the ISS. Crew members have the opportunity to supplement a few of their standard menu choices with commercial off-the-shelf items or personal favorites which provide them comfort while away from home. NASA’s Space Food Systems Laboratory produces freeze-dried food and packages commercially available protein powders, cookies, candy, and other dried goods that the astronauts can select from. NASA scientists are required to meet the nutritional needs of each crew member while adhering to the requirements of food safety, limited storage space, limited preparation options, and the difficulties of eating in microgravity. Scientists also must continually evaluate the acceptability and shelf life of these products.

Looking forward, NASA is focused on the research and development of nutritious and high-quality meals for future long-duration missions. Foods on these missions will need to be safe, nutritious, and palatable for up to five years to support crew health and performance through the challenges of exploration.

by Katherine M. Rahill, Ph.D.

Associate Element Scientist (Acting)

Human Health Countermeasures (HHC)

NASA Human Research Program

Johnson Space Center | Houston, TX

We spoke to pro boxer and musician Hannah ‘The Banger’ Rankin, who has also paved the way for more women to get involved in and go to boxing matches.

Hannah Rankin is a professional boxer and also a musician. Aged 32, she hails from Luss in Scotland and has held the WBA female super-welterweight title since last November. She also held the IBO title in 2019 and is ranked as the fifth best active female middleweight.

She developed an interest in contact sports from an early age but also nurtured an interest in music and is an accomplished bassoonist.

Hannah made her professional boxing debut in 2017 and has gone on to win 12 matches. She became the first Scottish female champion in 2019. She talks to us about what and who inspires her, and how boxing and music both need discipline…

DH: You were the first Scottish female boxing champion and you’re also an accomplished musician. How do you combine the two and is there any crossover in terms of mental attitude?

HR: To be a professional musician, you need good discipline, you have to be able to practice for hours. So that transfers quite well over to doing a sport when you have to practice technique as well. Rhythm also crosses over. You look at those Cuban fighters, it’s all about business for them. As a musician, I’m on a under the lights, the other profession is in the boxing ring. Both offer a chance to go out there and really showcase what you can do. One just happens to be avoiding getting punched in the face.

DH: Did you have any role models growing up and were they boxers?

HR: As a child, I wasn’t inspired by boxers. But as a musician, I have a very fond memory of going to see a concert by Maxine Vengurla, a violinist. I realised I want to be on stage like that, you know, and performing and playing with an orchestra.

My mum was also a huge inspiration to me (Hannah’s mum Clare died of cancer), and still is, because throughout my whole life, and even though she’s not here, she was just such a hero. She had me really young at 21 years old and my two younger sisters really quickly after that. She ran a farm with my dad and encouraged us with our music. She was my number one supporter and my biggest critic. She was the first person to tell me when something was great and the first person to give me positive criticism. Both my parents inspired me that my mum was definitely my role model.

DH: Have you faced adversity in your two careers?

HR: With boxing when I first started out it was very much like: ‘Why does a pretty girl like you want to box and you’ve got three degrees, you don’t need to box, you can go do