This dehydrated asparagus is typical of early Shuttle-era menu choices. It was returned from the first Shuttle mission, STS-1 (Columbia), in 1981. As there is no onboard refrigerator or freezer, most foods stocked on the Shuttle are processed for storage at room temperature and packaged in individual portions. Astronauts add hot or cold water to rehydrate the dried foods. This pouch is characteristic of earlier Skylab food package design; on later Shuttle missions cup-like containers were used.

Transferred from NASA to the Museum in 1983.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details