posted 08-14-2020 12:00 AM               

'Space salsa' adds spicy kick to astronaut freeze-dried food

Move over astronaut ice cream: a retired science teacher's new recipe is ready to heat up the world of freeze-dried space food.

Danny's Rocket Ranch Space Salsa, created by educator and self-professed "space nerd" Danny Jaques, is set to officially launch for sale on Saturday (Aug. 15). Online orders began Friday for the new spicy space dish.

"This is my delicious southwestern recipe, adapted for flight into space to our astronauts," Jaques describes on the Danny's Rocket Ranch Space Salsa website. "Using space-age technology, the freshness of this tasty salsa has been frozen in time — ready to be unlocked and enjoyed anywhere... the moon, Mars, or in your home!"

posted 03-10-2021 07:13 PM               

Space Foundation Names Danny's Rocket Ranch as Space Certification Program Partner

Creative Partner Supports the Future of Space Travel With Dehydrated Space Food

Space Foundation, a nonprofit advocate organization founded in 1983, today announced Danny's Rocket Ranch as the most recent company to become a Space Certification partner in the Creative Products category for commitment to the future of space travel and exploration with its dehydrated space food called "Space Salsa."

The Space Certification Program awards a "seal of approval" to commercial companies that demonstrate products and services in technology, data, education and creative markets that originate from space technology and are a source of inspiration for discoveries and innovations in the global space ecosystem. Today, every community, infrastructure, and aspect of modern life is either profoundly dependent on or indirectly affected by space-related innovations.

Creator, chief salsanaut and Danny's Rocket Ranch CEO Danny Jaques said, "I have always loved to cook and eat, and after years of making a delicious fresh salsa, I perfected a dehydrated salsa to be consumed on Earth, in space and beyond. My forever bride and I are excited to become Space Certification partners and hope our salsa will be in every kitchen and on every space mission."

Rocket-Launching Former Science Teacher Creates Space-Age Salsa

Danny and his wife and business partner Laura Lake-Jaques use space-age technology to preserve the ingredient freshness and increase portability of the spicy salsa so it can be enjoyed anywhere. NASA has been using the dehydration process with space foods for decades.

A self-described "space nerd," Jaques had early dreams of becoming an astronaut. Instead, he found his calling as a science teacher and launched many student's rockets (and their imaginations) from his property, which he called "Danny's Rocket Ranch." Inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame in 2010, Jaques has taken more than 500 children to Space Camp, as he believes it is a life-changing experience, igniting and nurturing children's self-confidence through team collaboration, problem solving and role playing. That tradition of providing opportunities for children to learn and grow lives on through the company's affiliation with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation.

Carah Barbarick, space awareness programs manager at Space Foundation, added, "Whenever I speak with Danny, his love for space and the next generation is evident. Danny's Rocket Ranch Space Salsa is his next adventure bringing those two together, and we are thrilled to be a part of it through Space Certification."