A Polish astronaut will be taking dumplings with him during his upcoming mission in what is a first for space cuisine.
Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski will be bringing along pierogis, a traditional dish from his home country to the International Space Station.
The 40-year-old will be taking part in the Axiom Mission 4, a private spaceflight set to take place in Spring 2025.
Sławosz will be able to enjoy a special menu, which has been created by a celebrity chef and a family-owned company in Poland.
It consists of four dishes in total, with renowned chef Mateusz Gessler, 44, having created the three mains.
Alongside the pierogi – stuffed with cabbage and mushrooms –Sławosz will also have tomato soup with noodles and leczo stew with buckwheat.
The fourth dish – an apple crumble dessert – is provided by LYOFOOD, a family-owned company that has extensive experience with freeze-drying technology.
Any food taken past the Earth’s orbit and up to the International Space Station has to be crumb-free, lightweight and it must keep for a minimum of two years.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are a luxury, only available when a spacecraft arrives with new supplies.
Sławosz was very excited when he heard that he would have the opportunity to choose his own personal bonus food menu.
When it came to creating the first batches of pierogi, they kept bursting, according to The European Space Agency.
It took a while for the freeze-drying process to be mastered so that the moisture could be removed from the dough.
This is a long process that completely removes any water from the food, maintaining its properties and structure for years.
Before the mission, ESA astronaut Sławosz participated in several tasting sessions.
This helped determine what dishes would be included in the basic supply throughout the mission, which is expected to last up to 14 days.
Previously, in a video with ESA, Sławosz has spoken on why he chose to be an astronaut, as reported by What’s The Jam.
He said: “I’m an explorer, I like going to the mountains, I like exploring different peaks.
“I have this aptitude for difficult conditions and definitely going beyond the orbit.
“It speaks to my core values and what I would like to do.”
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