Science students at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia will reveal how astronauts reported that food became tasteless and they could not obtain adequate nutrition in space. This research carried out and published in the International Journal of Food Science and Technology identifies the link between spatial perception and olfactory and gustative sensations.
This study aimed to compare the reactions of 54 astronauts towards lemon essential oil, vanilla, and almond extracts in the Earth and space setting. It was noted that the scent of benzaldehyde, which is found in vanilla and almond was more intense on Earth as compared to space, while that of lemon remained unchanged in its intensity.
Low, a co-researcher said that isolation on the International Space Station (ISS) might also result to loss of taste and smell. She highlighted the goal of the research: to establish better food choices that will improve the diet of astronauts. Dr Low added, ‘A feeling of loneliness will influence how we view food. ’ This is the key reason why we seek to develop foods that fully satisfy the astronauts’ nutritional requirements.
Gail Iles, a former astronaut instructor and co-researcher, stressed on the necessity of this research for any lengthy, future space exploration including a Mars mission. ”For these long-duration missions, it is very important to be able to understand the problems faced concerning diet and the interaction with food,” she said.
It is also useful for people in environments where they experience loneliness such as the elderly in old-age homes because it assists in increasing the intake of appropriate nutrients.