STEP 5: PACK YOUR BAGS
Leave the Hawaiian shirts and Panama hats at home, because when it comes to space travel, it’s more about being practical than putting on a fashion show. That said, in October last year, activewear brand Under Armour, the exclusive technical spacewear partner for Virgin Galactic, unveiled its line of technical spacewear and we’ve gotta say, it’s pretty slick.
Built to be safe, functional and comfortable, the outfit is a snug second-skin fit—a far cry from the fussy, bulky space suits seen in movies and TV shows. The uniform is an all-over ‘deep space blue’ with gold accents and customisable features including a clear pocket on the inside of the jacket for a photo of a loved one, and a removable patch that is unique to each mission.
If you’ve opted for orbital space travel, an official space suit will be required for taking off and landing, but at the ISS, astronauts tend to wear basics like T-shirts, shorts, sweatshirts and jeans. Remember: there’s no way to wash your clothes in space, so bring extras (and perhaps a Tide pen for those inevitable zero-gravity spills).
Speaking of, space isn’t exactly a foodie destination— at least, not yet. In the early days of space flight, astronauts had little choice but to eat food (or something like it) from tubes. Luckily, science is catching up and space
travellers are now able to indulge in some comforts from their home planet such as mac-and-cheese, hearty soups, bacon and eggs for breakfast and brownies for dessert.
Russia’s Space Agency, Roscosmos, keeps its astronauts happy with space-friendly versions of borscht, jellied pike perch and goulash. Chinese astronauts have plenty of options for a taste of home, with items like Yangzhou fried rice, stir-fried noodles, kung pao chicken, traditional stews and even dumplings on the menu. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has developed Japanese staples like rehydratable ramen, okonomiyaki and matcha. When Yi So-yeon became South Korea’s first astronaut, three research institutes were given US$1 million in funding to develop kimchi that could be taken to space in 2008. You know, priorities.
The lack of gravity mostly dictates what can and can’t be eaten. Potato chips and crackers, for example, are frowned upon because the crumbs become a nuisance. Most space food is either freeze-dried or dehydrated because it helps keep it longer and makes it easier to prepare and consume without a proper kitchen. Living in zero-gravity also means fluids rise in the body, leaving many astronauts perpetually congested, and as a result, hindering their sense of taste. This makes liquid salt and pepper and hot sauce a space traveller’s best friends.
For a farm-to-table experience, there have also been experiments with growing fresh produce in space. So far, astronauts have successfully harvested mizuna, a Japanese mustard green, on board the ISS. This is a huge step, and could mean broader and more sustainable options for the future. Just don’t expect a breakfast buffet any time soon.
Orbital travel, of course, requires the most serious training. Mark Shuttleworth, the aforementioned second tourist to travel to space, had to go through a year’s worth of training and preparation, including spending seven months in Russia’s military research and cosmonaut training facility, Star City.
Meanwhile, the much less complicated suborbital travel will be accessible to most, with simple medical tests required before taking off.