NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The information in this document was accurate as of the original publication date.

Audience: Educators & Students
Grades: 3-5


This lesson will help your students answer the question:
What foods are best suited for spaceflight and what makes foods suitable for spaceflight?

In this lesson, students will
-- Select foods to test for spaceflight suitability.
-- Subject foods to spaceflight suitability testing based upon criteria.
-- Gather data by sorting foods based upon the results of the suitability for spaceflight testing.
-- Develop packaging for the suitable foods for spaceflight.
-- Develop a conclusion based upon the results of this activity.

Food for Spaceflight Activity
>  For educators [468KB PDF file]
>  en español

>  For students [198KB PDF file]
>  en español

The Food for Spaceflight Activity is the lesson that accompanies Why Do Astronauts Eat Tortillas Instead of Bread?, one of the topics in the 21st Century Explorer series. Each exploration topic in NASA's Kids Science News Network™ 21st Century Explorer series has a 30-second newsbreak videoclip, online Web explanation (background information), hands-on activity guide based on national education standards, online glossary and quiz.

All components of Why Do Astronauts Eat Tortillas Instead of Bread? are available on the 21st Century Explorer topic page  →.

Also in this series:
Those Who Have Come Before Me Activity
Get a Leg Up Activity
Speed It Up Activity
Designing a Crew Exploration Vehicle Activity
What's Hidden Inside Activity
Moon Mining Activity
Let's Investigate Mars Activity
Cleaning Water Activity
Making Regolith Activity
Ray Shielding Activity
Cool Suits Activity


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