Moon mission cites antioxidants as reason for maple syrup choice

A conversation between the Canadian prime minister and Artemis II astronaut made the headlines recently, when the national leader made a point of confirming that space adventurer Jeremy Hansen ate natural maple syrup with his pancakes in the morning.

Now, a food and culture journalist has analysed the food taken on the moon ‘fly-by’ mission in April.

Writing on the Meer platform, Bruno Macia explained that maple syrup might have served a very important role, aside from being a breakfast staple for Canadian Hansen.

Macia explained:

“The antioxidants in maple syrup (manganese and zinc in particular), along with the omega-3 fatty acids in the salmon jerky Hansen reportedly carried, are now considered potential ‘radioprotectors’: nutrients that may help mitigate the cellular damage caused by deep-space radiation exposure.”

There was another advantage offered by a maple syrup snack Hansen had brought aboard. The maple syrup cookie eaten by the astronaut wasn’t just a home comfort – the chewing function needed to eat it had a role in stimulating the jaw muscles; an exercise which can help to avoid muscle atrophy in space.

Aside from the nutrition aspects, there are also reportedly practical elements to deciding what went into the Artemis II pantry. Food that is liable to result in crumbs is avoided because these small pieces can float around the spacecraft. This presents the risk of crumbs penetrating sensitive equipment and even getting inside the lungs or eyes of the astronauts.

Meals are typically vacuum-packed, rationed to three meals a day, with limitations on fresh fruit, which is considered a scarce delicacy in space.