Trivia: Freeze-dried ice cream not commonly consumed by astronauts

[sumghai]

According to Wikipedia:

Apollo 7 in 1968 was the first and only NASA mission on which freeze-dried ice cream flew in space. It was developed by U.S. Army Natick Laboratories, consisting of "coconut fat, milk solids, and sugar. The ice cream was homogenized, frozen, then freeze-dried, ground and compressed into cubes under high pressure. The cubes were then coated with an edible gelatin coating to prevent crumbs".^[3] This was the ice cream flown on Apollo 7, which can differ from modern space ice cream.^[3] It was found to be impractical for space flight because of the tendency to crumble and create crumbs which can be dangerous to humans and equipment in a microgravity environment.^[4][5] Despite the modern images of space walking astronauts in shuttle era space suits, freeze dried ice cream was not included on any subsequent Apollo, Skylab, shuttle, or International Space Station missions.^[6] According to one NASA food scientist, although freeze-dried ice cream was developed on request, "it wasn't that popular."^[7]

On the other hand, ordinary ice cream was somewhat regularly available for Shuttle and ISS astronauts:

By 1972, astronauts also ate classic ice cream on the Skylab space station and regular ice cream has also been eaten on the International Space Station.^[8] Skylab had a refrigerator that was used for regular ice cream,^[9] and occasionally Space Shuttle and International Space Station astronauts have taken regular ice cream into space.^[10]

Food for thought indeed

[Flymetothemun]

Astronaut food or not, it's still tasty. One of the weirdest textures, yet one of the most unique tastes. Kinda interesting to see that real icecream is available though.

Anyway, decided to look up the Amazon reviews page for the stuff and found this gem, titled "BUYER BEWARE":

It says 'Neapolitan'. but don't let those nerds down in Cape Canaveral fool you! This stuff is totally Space Flavored! It says "natural and artificial ingredients", but I know that just means powdered space shuttle fuel and jellied instant mashed potatoes. This stuff ISS great! (See what I did there? No? Okay, well it was pretty lame anyway)

UPDATE

Upon further sartorial and mathematical research, I found this to be made with bits of real astronaut, not that imitation bullcrap from North Korea that's been flooding the market lately.

I ate one of these the other day and suddenly and involuntarily began saying all my sentences starting with, "Houston..." It was great fun.

I also peed into a bag! Well, that was more of something I elected to do than anything else, but it was great!

[michaelsteele3]

As long as it's ice cream, I don't care :3

[GeneCash]

As long as it's ice cream, I don't care :3

Nope, it's not anything like ice cream, except in name... it's like flavored crunchy styrofoam. It's not a bad snack (*I* love it) but I can see why it isn't popular.

[vger]

I really need to try that stuff yet. Went to Kennedy as a kid and wanted it by my 'rents wouldn't allow it. Time to fulfill one of my inner child's unfulfilled desires.

[musicpenguin]

I like it.