Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

This spacefood package contains compressed fruitcake cubes, which were flown on the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969. These cubes were eaten without the addition of water and were "bite-sized" to minimize the possibility of crumbs.

Each Apollo crew member was provided with three meals per day which provided approximately 2,800 daily calories. The food was freeze-dried and was easily reconstituted by the astronaut with a water probe, which dispensed one half ounce of hot or cold water as required each time the trigger button was pressed.

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 wrap.

NASA transferred this to the Museum in 1986.

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: 10.8 x 8.9 x 1.9cm (4 1/4 x 3 1/2 x 3/4 in.)
Materials Preserved organic material, plastic pouch, paper, velcro
Inventory Number A19860578000 Credit Line Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.