Nutrition in Space

3 Units

This course will explore human nutrition in space. Initially, the history of food and nutrition in human space exploration will be reviewed, then students will examine how limited resources, microgravity, radiation, and confinement affect basic nutrient needs, food systems, and human health in space. Through lectures, case studies, writing, and project-based learning, students will understand and apply new knowledge of nutrition and food systems solutions for future human space missions. Students will also develop knowledge of space food systems related to considerations of food selection, preservation, and distribution during long-duration space missions, and examine how different cultural assumptions, traditions, and experiences surrounding nutrition and foods may influence human group interactions, types of foods and foods systems, and therefore, human health status during long-duration space flight in order to better understand and apply knowledge of human diversity and global perspectives in support of off-world human health during future missions in space. Counts as a Human Diversity & Commonality course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.