Nutritional countermeasures for long-duration spaceflight and a proposed method for astronaut meal planning using an optimisation simulation
Abstract
This paper reviews the health risks associated with living in space and their current nutritional countermeasures. Additionally, a method for astronaut meal planning using a computer-based optimisation simulation is proposed. In space, it is essential that astronauts maintain biopsychosocial well-being by consuming a diet that is both nutritionally sufficient and psychologically appealing. In the context of long-duration spaceflight, food will need to be grown on the spacecraft to maximise Earth-independence while minimising the need for resupply. The choice of food may be guided by agricultural experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) as well as ground-based analogues. Some of these foods include sweet potato and rice. The literature review was guided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Human Research Program (HRP), which lists the evidence, risks and knowledge gaps relating to space life science research. Search terms included "nutrition" and "spaceflight", along with a physiological system such as "ocular" or "immunity". Virtually every physiological system is affected by the spaceflight environment, including the musculoskeletal, immune, cardiovascular and ocular systems. Of particular concern is the oxidative stress and consequent cell damage due to increased doses of ionising radiation beyond the Earth's magnetosphere. As a countermeasure, it is recommended that the astronaut consume adequate antioxidants, especially vitamins A, C and E. To plan meals, a novel simulation has been developed using optimisation calculations via the Microsoft Excel 2019 Solver add-on. Assumptions include the mass of the astronaut. The decision variable is the number of servings of each food. The constraints for the simulation dictate that the astronaut must meet recommended daily intake (RDI) of macronutrients and micronutrients, and that mass of food grown must be minimised. Meal plans can be modified based on availability of food and daily caloric expenditure, with detailed scenarios provided in this paper. While similar to Earth-based meal plans used in the nutrition industry, this meal planning simulation is specifically designed for long-duration spaceflight and thus exhibits some points of difference. In a virtually closed system, mass, cost and sustainability of the foods and their growing techniques are critical considerations. However, this simulation is not designed for a specific gravity field, such as a force of 0G during transit or the 0.38G on Mars. Outside the scope of this paper, novel farming techniques such as cell cultures may also be developed for spaceflight. Additionally, further research is needed on whether the spaceflight environment affects nutrient absorption in a clinical significant manner.
- Publication:
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43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E2049T