This spacefood package from the Apollo era contains dehydrated and compressed beef with vegetables. It required rehydration with hot water and could be eaten directly from the bag. Apollo astronauts were provided with three meals per day which provided approximately 2,800 calories.

The food was protected with a 4-ply, laminated film coating. This protected the food from loss of flavor, moisture and oxygen invasion, spoiling and excess crumbling, and was used on both the rehydratable and the bite-sized foods. The rehydratable foods also had an 8-quinolinol sulfate tablet attached to reduce spoilage in the used food wraps.

Transferred to the national Air and Space Museum from NASA

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Food & Food Accessories

Manufacturer

Whirlpool Corporation

Dimensions

3-D: 17 × 18 × 2.5cm (6 11/16 × 7 1/16 × 1 in.)

Materials

Exterior: 4-ply Polyethelyne laminate bag
Valve: Plastic
Contents: Dehydrated, compressed beef with vegetables

Inventory Number

A19860454000

Credit Line

Transferred from NASA

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.