The first food consumed in space was during humanity’s first journey into orbit by Yuri Gagarin. Scientists at the time had significant concerns about how eating in space would affect an astronaut. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth, completing a 108-minute journey aboard the Vostok 1. Although Gagarin could have completed this relatively short journey without eating, scientists had to consider the possibility of longer missions, where consuming food would be necessary.
With this in mind, scientists decided to test how eating in space might affect Yuri Gagarin. The Vostok 1 capsule was stocked with 13 days’ worth of provisions, as a precaution against various scenarios, such as retro-rocket failure or natural orbital decay, which might delay the astronaut’s return to Earth. This setup provided an opportunity to test eating in space, as scientists were unsure whether basic functions like chewing and swallowing would work in microgravity.
To ensure no crumbs or debris would float around the capsule, food was processed into a paste and packed in metal tubes, resembling toothpaste. Yuri Gagarin consumed two tubes of food during his journey: one with pureed beef and another with liver paste. For dessert, he enjoyed a tube of chocolate sauce. The absence of crumbs and the paste-like texture minimized the risk of inhaling food particles in microgravity.
Given the uncertainty about how microgravity would affect human physiology, scientists took extra precautions to ensure Gagarin’s safety. They were concerned that eating in space might cause digestive issues or other complications. However, their concerns proved unfounded, and Gagarin’s successful consumption of food during his journey demonstrated that eating in space would not pose significant problems.
Yuri Gagarin’s experience paved the way for future space missions, showing that astronauts could safely eat in space without major complications. His successful journey into orbit and back to Earth remains a significant milestone in space exploration history.
