The First Meals Ever Eaten In Space
BY: PRAGATI UPADHYAY
What did astronauts eat when humanity first left Earth? Let’s look at the surprising meals that fueled space pioneers.
Dining Beyond Earth
In 1961 the first man in space ate pureed meat from a toothpaste-style tube. Not glamorous, but historic.
Yuri Gagarin’s First Bite
Early cosmonauts had pureed beef, liver paste, and soups—all squeezed from aluminum tubes. Practical, but far from tasty.
Tube Food & Packets
John Glenn ate applesauce, sugar tablets, and “bite-sized” cubes coated with gelatin to stop crumbs from floating.
NASA’s First Menu
Bread wasn’t allowed—crumbs could jam equipment. Instead, astronauts used tortillas, which became a staple of space dining.
Crumb-Free Innovation
Chocolate pudding, fruit compotes, and coffee made their way into early space menus, offering comfort on long missions.
Sweet Treats In Orbit
From meat paste tubes to tortilla wraps, these meals weren’t gourmet—but they marked humanity’s first step toward living beyond Earth.
Meals That Made History