Did you know that freeze-dried ice cream was aboard the Apollo 7 mission? That's right- freeze-dried vanilla ice cream was featured on one of the three menus for the flight.
In addition to being a historic flight for cosmic treats, Apollo 7 marked a pivotal moment in the history of space exploration. The Apollo 7 mission, launched on October 11, 1968, marked a significant turning point in NASA's Apollo program and the United States' quest to land a man on the Moon. It was the first crewed mission in the Apollo program and laid the groundwork for future lunar exploration.
Photo Credit: NASA
The Mission: A Step Toward the Moon
Apollo 7 was a pivotal mission for NASA, coming on the heels of the tragic Apollo 1 accident that claimed the lives of three astronauts during a pre-launch test. The successful launch of Apollo 7 on a Saturn IB rocket was crucial to restoring confidence in the program. The crew consisted of Commander Walter M. Schirra, Command Module Pilot Donn F. Eisele, and Lunar Module Pilot Walter Cunningham.
The mission's objectives were to test the command and service modules in low Earth orbit, evaluate systems, and conduct a series of critical tests to ensure that everything was functioning properly for future missions. These tests included:
- Systems Testing: The crew checked the performance of the spacecraft’s life support, navigation, and communication systems.
- Orbital Maneuvers: Apollo 7 executed various maneuvers to simulate conditions that would be encountered during a lunar mission.
- Television Broadcasts: For the first time, a live television broadcast from space allowed millions of people to see and hear the astronauts, humanizing the mission and generating public excitement about space exploration.
Apollo 7 orbited Earth 163 times over 11 days, demonstrating the spacecraft’s capabilities and providing vital data for the subsequent Apollo missions.
The Challenges: Technology and Illness
The astronauts faced various challenges during the flight, including equipment malfunctions and illness brought on by the psychological strain of extended confinement in a small spacecraft.
Technical issues included problems with the spacecraft's fuel cells. The live television broadcasts also faced technical difficulties, but the crew managed to engage the public with their candid updates. Their charisma and humor brought the mission to life and showcased the human aspect of space exploration.
The crew also caught the infamous "spacecraft fever," a term used to describe the physical and psychological stress associated with being confined in a small spacecraft for an extended period.
The Apollo 7 Crew. Photo Credit: NASA
A Culinary Twist: Freeze-Dried Ice Cream
While Apollo 7's primary focus was on technical objectives and safety protocols, it also introduced a delightful aspect of space travel: food. Among the various items onboard was a special treat—freeze-dried ice cream. This novel form of ice cream was part of the effort to provide astronauts with palatable and easily consumable food in microgravity.
Freeze-dried ice cream, or Astronaut Ice Cream, is made by removing moisture from the ice cream, allowing it to be lightweight and shelf-stable. This process means that it can be eaten without refrigeration and doesn't create crumbs, making it ideal for space travel. Today, it remains a fun way for people to connect with the legacy of the Apollo missions.
Legacy of Apollo 7
The success of Apollo 7 paved the way for subsequent missions, culminating in the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing in 1969. It demonstrated that humans could live and work effectively in space, setting a foundation for everything that followed. The mission not only restored faith in NASA's capabilities but also reignited public interest in space exploration.
In addition to its technical achievements, Apollo 7's spirit of innovation and experimentation continues to inspire new generations of scientists, engineers, and dreamers. The mission's legacy lives on as we continue to explore the cosmos, pushing boundaries and seeking new frontiers.
Apollo 7 and Astronaut Ice Cream
After the success of Apollo 7, NASA reached out to our parent company, American Outdoor Products, with a unique challenge: Could we create freeze-dried ice cream to give space enthusiasts and those who tuned into the Apollo 7 broadcast a taste of what it was like on the space ship?
Nobody had ever freeze-dried ice cream commercially before, but we decided to give it a shot, and thus Astronaut Ice Cream was born. At first, founder Ron Smith thought the ice cream would just be a fad, but it has proven to be almost as timeless as space itself.
Next time you reach for Astronaut Ice Cream, know that you have at least one thing in common with the Apollo 7 crew.
