[NASA] NOW Serving up space food and shuttle tiles to museums - Polidicks

[img]http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/nasa-space-food-samples-museums.grid-6x2.jpg[/img] [quote] NASA is now offering museums a choice of freeze-dried and heat-resistant artifacts for their space shuttle-themed displays. The space agency on Tuesday (Sept. 4) expanded its offer of surplus space food and space shuttle heat shield tiles, which had earlier been open only to educational organizations. Now, museums located across the nation can request the same pieces of space history that U.S. schools and universities have received since the end of the space agency's shuttle program in 2011. For 30 years, NASA stocked its shuttle pantry with shrimp cocktail and spaghetti with meat sauce, among a variety of other dishes. Dessert selections on the shuttle included freeze-dried strawberries and off-the-shelf sweets such as candy-coated chocolates (otherwise known as M&Ms). To drink, crew members could choose from coffee or tea, as well as powdered juices (Tang, in its many flavors). The astronaut food was precooked or processed so as not to need refrigeration and was ready to eat. Meals could be prepared simply by adding water or by heating. [ Space Food Photos: What Astronauts Eat ] That said, the food being offered is for demonstration and display use only. "Not for consumption," NASA warned on its website. The other artifacts NASA is offering, lightweight thermal tiles, protected the shuttle orbiters from the extreme heat encountered during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. More than 20,000 tiles were installed on each shuttle and each tile was designed to survive 100 trips to space and back. Varying in thickness from 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) to 5 inches (12.7 cm), the tiles shielded the orbiter against temperatures as high as 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit. Both the space food and the tiles are available to eligible institutions on a first-come, first-served basis. Museums and schools must have the proper credentials from their state or federal agencies to qualify. The tiles are available in three types: black coated, white coated and uncoated. Institutions may request up to three tiles, one of each type, while supplies last. The tiles are free but the schools and museums are responsible for the shipping and handling fees, $23.40 per tile. The space food is offered as a package of approximately three space food items for a shipping and handling fee of $28.03. Eligible institutions may request only one set of the astronaut meal items. NASA, together with the General Services Administration (GSA), is also conducting its 14th round of space artifact screenings. Since the end of the shuttle program, NASA has made available thousands of other space artifacts for museums, including the Smithsonian. The current selection of artifacts up for grabs includes early prototype space shuttle models and various components from the winged spacecraft. The space shuttle program came to an end on Aug. 31, 2011, just over a month after its 135th and final mission landed on Earth. NASA earlier awarded its shuttle orbiters Discovery, Endeavour and Atlantis to museums while still retaining some of their components for possible use with spacecraft intended to send astronauts to an asteroid and ultimately to Mars. [/quote] [url]http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48927460/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.UEjRWo2GrqU[/url]

none in the UK?

[QUOTE=Irockz;37564130]none in the UK?[/QUOTE] well it's NASA so... [editline]6th September 2012[/editline] Don't see why a US agency would do anything other than distribute it to US museums/schools.

The green bag looks like weed

[QUOTE=Number-41;37564423]The green bag looks like weed[/QUOTE] Astroturf.

[QUOTE=Number-41;37564423]The green bag looks like weed[/QUOTE] They got higher then any man before them.

[QUOTE=Valdor;37564211]well it's NASA so... [editline]6th September 2012[/editline] Don't see why a US agency would do anything other than distribute it to US museums/schools.[/QUOTE] I think they should as the ISS is a international project. Maybe with a small fee.

[QUOTE=Chernarus;37566130]I think they should as the ISS is a international project. Maybe with a small fee.[/QUOTE] So because it's an international project, it should be in the UK? How does that make sense? If anything, it should be in Russia and Japan before it'd ever be there, seeing as how those are the major players. (incoming european hatred)

[QUOTE=Pat4ever;37566181]So because it's an international project, it should be in the UK? How does that make sense? If anything, it should be in Russia and Japan before it'd ever be there, seeing as how those are the major players. (incoming european hatred)[/QUOTE] I never said it should be in the UK only, I meant all participating countries.

I want astronaut food.

anyone ever go to the museum of science in their city and eat astronaut ice cream? that was some good stuff

I know they loan some of the shuttle's silica tiles used to absorb heat on the shuttle to educational institutions already. We've gotten to take a look at some of those in my aviation history class before. They're neato. [video=youtube;Pp9Yax8UNoM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp9Yax8UNoM[/video]

Hey I want space food too nigga; shit put it in Kroger budget crisis over real talk

man it would be cool if nasa sold some of those shuttle tiles to the public.

I once ate a freeze dried ice cream sandwich and they were DELICIOUS. (which I would hope they'd serve there..)

[QUOTE=UberMunchkin;37566076]It's an experience that's out of this world[/QUOTE] One small puff for man

I'll take 20.

Gimme some of dat space nachos. taste space motherfuckers

how do they add powder to water in space i feel like it'd just get everywhere

I spy MRE cheese spread, but does it come with wheat snack bread too?

i have one of those thermal shield tiles, got it at Kennedy space center back in '08