NASA has revealed the food plan for the crew of Artemis II, the first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo era. The menu includes 189 different food items, carefully balanced and adapted for a multi-day mission in space. All meals are packed in compact individual containers designed to last two to three days.

Daily meal structure: three meals and drinks

Each astronaut will receive three main meals per day plus two beverages with nutritional supplements. The selection of drinks is limited to ten options, due to strict weight restrictions for spacecraft supplies.

The available beverages include:

  • coffee
  • green tea
  • mango-peach smoothie
  • lemonade
  • apple cider
  • cocoa
  • several other flavored drinks

Breakfast begins with options such as:

  • sausages
  • granola with blueberries
  • fruit salad
  • nuts

Lunch and dinner offer a wider variety of dishes, including grilled beef, macaroni and cheese, vegetables, salads, and other meals that can be heated onboard the spacecraft.

Why the menu looks like this

The menu is designed to maintain astronauts’ energy levels, muscle mass, and psychological comfort during the mission. Food choices are selected to be familiar and enjoyable, while also minimizing weight and storage space.

All items undergo strict safety testing, including checks for long-term storage stability and resistance to the harsh conditions of spaceflight, including radiation exposure.

Status of the mission

The launch of Artemis II was originally scheduled for March 2026, but it was postponed in January due to technical issues. The head of NASA described the delay as disappointing but necessary.

The mission will now focus on a crewed flyby of the Moon without landing, testing spacecraft systems and docking procedures. A full lunar landing mission has been postponed until no earlier than 2028, after an additional test flight.

When it launches, Artemis II will mark the first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years, since the final Apollo mission, Apollo 17, in 1972.

In brief

The crew of Artemis II will receive a balanced menu of 189 food items, including sausages, grilled beef, granola, smoothies, coffee, and other familiar foods packaged for space travel. Astronauts will have three meals per day plus two drinks. The mission’s launch was delayed due to technical issues and will now involve a lunar flyby rather than a landing, while an actual Moon landing is expected no earlier than 2028. The menu is designed to support astronauts’ energy, health, and morale during the journey.