posted 11-09-2015 05:59 AM               

So I am sitting here with paperwork for food that someone else may very well own.

I am going to post images of each one (there are a lot so please bear with me).

posted 11-09-2015 06:33 AM               

• Chocolate Pudding
  Serial No: FJ 046
  Part No: R133957-1
  Code Ident No: 04071
  Other Identifying Codes: 6187
  Velcro: Square/White

• Toasted Bread Cubes
  Serial No: FL 059
  Part No: R133961-1
  Code Ident No: 04071
  Other Identifying Codes: 6230
  Velcro: None

• Orange Drink
  Serial No: FM 072
  Part No: R133967-1
  Code Ident No: 04071
  Other Identifying Codes: 6256
  Velcro: Square/Red

• Cinnamon Toast
  Serial No: FH 810
  Part No: R133943-1
  Code Ident No: 04071
  Other Identifying Codes: 6183
  Velcro: Square/White

• Banana Pudding
  Serial No: FAN 437
  Part No: R133955-1
  Code Ident No: 04071
  Other Identifying Codes: 8320
  Velcro: x2/Square/Blue

posted 11-09-2015 07:50 AM               

Bread Cubes

posted 11-09-2015 07:50 AM               

Cinnamon Toast

posted 11-09-2015 08:34 AM               

I know there have been debates about the flown/unflown food, and all have been inconclusive. I'm wondering whether or not, with this new paperwork, if there would be a way to further the debate or at least shed light on information unseen until now.

There are 45 documents worth of food packets, all similar to the above with the exception of one, which appears to show a full meal assembly (labelled as Meal C).

posted 11-09-2015 08:45 AM               

Lachance was NASA's Flight Food and Nutrition Coordinator from 1963 to 1967.

...the initial contract was won by Melpar, as the integrator, and they were in Maryland somewhere; anyway, near the green belt. But they got so involved in the paperwork that they were not doing very much technically, and the other [subcontractor] company, which was Swift, which we mentioned that made all the meat products.

posted 11-09-2015 08:47 AM               

The drawings will probably not help settle flown/unflown questions. They do show the sizes and weights of the flight rated food packages. I have not noticed part numbers on any food packages, only the type of food, how much water to add, a serial number, and a four-digit code such as in your list.

posted 11-10-2015 04:50 AM               

Here is paperwork for a full meal plan:

posted 11-10-2015 05:24 AM               

The paperwork shows a breakdown of the various Individual Part Numbers which make up the full meal, so theoretically, they can be linked up to a Stowage List so long as you have the paperwork for the full meal plan. Am I mistaken?

posted 11-10-2015 06:42 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by rgarner:
So the Stowage List would show part numbers identical to those on the Meal Plan paperwork I just posted.

---

Unfortunately, as noted above the Gemini Stowage Lists only show e.g. "Food 9557-3-035 6 m/d" - that is, 6 day meal packs. There is no detail at all of the contents.

It's similar with the Apollo stowage lists where all food is just a "Food Assembly" unit with no detail included.

You'd need to find documentation beyond the Stowage Lists to try to identify what was really flown per flight.

posted 11-21-2015 01:22 PM               

I also have a PDF version available. I'll update it as new info comes to light.

Info on Space Food

Melpar Inc: Melpar Inc. was the manufacturer of all food rations meant for Project Gemini. This role was taken over by Whirlpool Corp. some time during the Late-Gemini Missions. Evidence suggests (but is factually inconclusive) that the last mission in which Melpar manufactured food packets for NASA was for Gemini 8.

The evidence for this assumption is based on the latest known Melpar paperwork in which the last entry by a Melpar employee was Feb. 7, 1966. The Gemini 8 mission launched on March 16, 1966, some three weeks later.

Whirlpool Corp: In October 1960, Whirlpool received a government contract to design and build America's first experimental space kitchen. The kitchen included a miniature thermoelectric refrigerator, freezer, three-cavity oven, self-heated water system, storage space for food and disposal units for both dry and wet waste. This was the first attempt by appliance engineers to cope with the problems of zero gravity. Whirlpool later developed food for Late-Gemini, Apollo and Skylab missions.

How to Identify Food Developed by Whirlpool

Circular WSD Stamp: The circular stamp is prevalent on all food packets manufactured by Whirlpool. The stamp itself is thought to be a quality control stamp and would be applied to said food upon completion of the QC check. The stamp consists of two parts, three letters and two numbers. The letters are consistent on all packets and are thought to be an abbreviation of 'Whirlpool Space Division', the numbers range from 11 to 18, and these are believed to the the Quality Control Inspectors personal ID number.

Other Whirlpool Food Considerations

Four Digit Stamp: Unknown purpose. These stamps consisted of four numbers. There are two types of known varying font used. There has been only one use of this code which has aided, but not confirmed whether or not the food was from either Gemini or Apollo. If two codes are close together in number, i.e. 6187 and 6190, one can assume that these food packets were meant for the same mission. This is simply an indication and not a guarantee that this is the case.

Additional Information

Square Pieces of Velcro: There were three colours of Velcro used on Apollo food packets; red, blue and white – the colours of the American Flag. The were used to determine which crew member the food was meant for. Red was meant for the Commander, Blue for the Lunar Module Pilot and White for the Command Module Pilot.

Coloured Lace: Full meals were wrapped in an outer layer and tied with a piece of coloured lace, the colours and purpose of this lace were identical to that of the Velcro squares.

Serial No: The Serial Number referred to an individual food packet and consisted of between two to three letters and three numbers. Each full meal consisted of several food packets, the meal itself was labelled with its own Serial Number.

Ways to Distinguish between Gemini and Apollo Food

Germicide Tablet: There were two methods used for containing germicide tablets, one was external and the other internal. The introduction of internal germicide tables did not take place until Apollo 8. Prior to this all mission food packets containing the tablet were in a separate pouch attached to the exterior of the food packet. Therefore, any food packet containing an external germicide tablet must be from Gemini Missions or Apollo 7, and any food packet containing an internal germicide tablet must be from Apollo 8 onwards.

Introduction of the Spoon Bowl: Spoon bowl food packets were not introduced until Apollo 10. Therefore, all spoon bowl food packets must be from Apollo 10 onwards.

Water Temperature: The Gemini Missions did not have hot water, this was not introduced until Apollo 7, therefore any mention of water temperature is a tell-tale sign of Apollo food packets. Furthermore, Apollo food packets always reference water temperature, therefore any food packets simply stating 'water' were from Gemini.

posted 11-21-2015 01:30 PM               

Orange Drink and Toasted Bread Cubes are from Apollo 7.

The Orange Drink has an external tablet and references Cold Water, therefore must be from Apollo 7. The reason I believe the Toasted Bread Cubes are of the same mission as due to the fact that the four digit stamp codes are very close together in number; 6230 and 6256.

If however the bread cubes turn out not to be from Apollo 7 then logic dictates they must have been used on Apollo 8.

Chocolate Pudding and Cinnamon Toast are from Gemini 9A-12.

The Chocolate Pudding has an external tablet and does not reference water temperature - other known Chocolate Pudding food packets state cold water. The Cinnamon Toast 4 digit stamp is also very close to the Chocolate Pudding, 6183 and 6187, meaning that they are likely as not meant for the same mission.