Why do astronauts eat freeze-driedfood in space?​

Astronauts eat freeze-dried food in space because of several key reasons. Firstly, fresh food is not easily preserved in space due to the lack of refrigeration and the need to minimize resources such as water and weight. Freeze-drying food removes its moisture content, which prevents the growth of microorganisms and decay. This process significantly extends the shelf life of the food, which is essential for long space missions.

Secondly, by removing water, the weight of the food is greatly reduced. Since launching payloads into space is very expensive, with costs related to the weight, reducing the weight of food is crucial to manage the mission costs.

Finally, freeze-dried foods can be easily rehydrated by adding water, which astronauts have in controlled supply aboard spacecraft. When rehydrated, freeze-dried food regains much of its original texture, flavor, and nutritional value, making it a practical solution for maintaining astronauts' diets during space missions.