This spacefood package contains dehydrated tuna salad flown on the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969. It required the addition of cold water prior to consumption. Food for spaceflight must be nutritious, lightweight, and have the ability to be compressed when possible. For the early missions, it also had to be stored without refrigeration and have the ability to be eaten under weightless conditions.
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 from NASA to the Museum in 1986.
Display Status
This object is on display in Destination Moon at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Food & Food Accessories
Manufacturer
Whirlpool Corporation
Dimensions
3-D: 30.5 × 8.9 × 3.2cm, 0.1kg (1 ft. × 3 1/2 in. × 1 1/4 in., 0.1lb.)
Materials
Exterior: 4-ply, Polyethelyne laminate bag, paper
Valve: Plastic, rubber
Contents: Dehydrated tuna salad, 8-quinolinol sulfate tablet
Inventory Number
A19860474000
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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