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Author
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Topic: Kosher space food for Jewish astronauts
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Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 04-04-2011 12:14 PM
   
I know that there are a few Jewish astronauts (Greg Chamitoff for example). Does NASA have a Kosher food option for them and what are the restrictions (like no Matzah because the crumbs can get everywhere)? Thanks! |
Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 04-04-2011 04:50 PM
According to ths ABC news article, the late former Israeli air force pilot Ilan Ramon "brought on board with him kosher food" during his mission on Space Shuttle Columbia's ill-fated final flight. Based on that, I would conjecture that idiosyncracies such as food preferences may be up to the individual rather than as a burden on the tax payer.However, this wiki article claims that Ramon "was the first spaceflight participant to request kosher food," making it sound like he was able to oblige others by requesting, with advance notice, the option for the kosher meals being served on the flight. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-04-2011 04:59 PM
Not all of Ramon's meals were kosher* but those that were, were purchased by NASA as commercial off-the-shelf products (the company produced kosher MREs for soldiers). "All we [did was] wash the pouch, put a label on it, and stow it in the tray," said Vickie Kloeris, sub-system manager for space shuttle and space station food at the Johnson Space Center. *Ramon was the first astronaut to request kosher meals, but for symbolic purposes only. He did not keep kosher himself but felt it important as the first Israeli to fly, to represent the customs of the Jewish population while in orbit.As for Chamitoff, his family owns a famous Canadian bagel shop and as such was the first to receive a care package of bagels in space. Until today, his next flight (STS-134) was scheduled to launch on the first day of Passover, and so he did indeed pack matzah onboard space shuttle Endeavour. As he explained in his interview with collectSPACE, special packaging was devised to contain the crumbs (more on this soon). |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-04-2011 05:19 PM
Did you ask him where he intended to hide the Afikomen? |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 04-04-2011 05:25 PM
Probably under the pillow he would recline on, like at most seders, but probably in a bag rather than a cloth napkin.
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Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 04-04-2011 05:30 PM
quote:
Originally posted by fredtrav:
Probably under the pillow he would recline on, like at most seders, but probably in a bag rather than a cloth napkin.
The question would be, who would find it? The crew or Chamitoff? If it was Chamitoff then one of the others would hide it. It would have been interesting to see the first Seder in space, although would something like that be: - allowed (from a use of time standpoint)
- Be done in private?
I look forward to that article Robert. It is nice to see that there are Jewish astronauts who do some degree observe the holidays. Makes even more proud to be Jewish somehow. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 06-03-2011 05:43 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
As he explained in his interview with collectSPACE, special packaging was devised to contain the crumbs (more on this soon).
How long is "soon"? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-03-2011 06:23 PM
Unfortunately, after the mission slipped past Passover, it was no longer clear that the matzah was still onboard. I do plan to follow up with Chamitoff... |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 06-03-2011 10:30 PM
Keeping Kosher in space would be an interesting concept. As more and more crews become international, the prospect of respecting certain religious sects strict dietary protocol could present a problem. Food storage and preperation would be a huge problem as a kosher meal could not be prepared in the same area as a non-kosher meal. The thought is mind boggling - but an extremely interesting topic should it ever happen. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 06-04-2011 08:10 AM
Perhaps comparisons could be made in for similar situations: crews on nuclear submarines perhaps; or scientists spending the winter at Antarctic bases? Everest expeditions? |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 06-04-2011 11:21 PM
It's just one of those things that's never mentioned.
I remember sitting in on a lecture, I think, by Al Worden where they were planning the menus for the Apollo crews. Apparently, the crews were all given a rather lengthy list of choices of meals of which to pick from - but when they finally got into space, they realized that their choices had very little bearing on what was actually there - and when the compared THEIR meals with other crews, the all, pretty much, got whatever the nutritionists wanted them to have. Of course, the major exception being the John Young and Charlie Duke on Apollo 16 who got an extra spike of Potassium - which led to a bit of stomach distress on John's part. That would make a wonderful inscription which I'm sure he'd turn down. |
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