Public invited to view NASA display
Opportunity given to learn more about U.S. space program

Eating food in outer space presents unique challenges to astronauts as they orbit the earth and live on the International Space Station. A traveling exhibit, valued at $34,000, is on display in Rusk through Thursday at the Junior High school cafeteria.

Area citizens have an opportunity to visit a NASA display at Rusk Junior High cafeteria on Salem Road in Rusk. The showing will be held from 5-8 p.m. through Thursday. The showing is free to the general public.

The showing was originally scheduled to be held at the Thomas J. Rusk Hotel, but was changed after press time Tuesday afternoon. "We are doing this to allow students more time to visit the display during school hours," said Connie Brown, chamber of commerce manager.

An earlier event was held May 6 and May 9 at the Lon Morris Gym.

"Entitled 'NASA comes home' is an unique opportunity for area citizens to learn more about the U.S. space program," Ms. Brown said.

There are life size and scale size exhibits of real space suits, space shuttle and 747, space tools and equipment, astronaut food and much more.

The event is sponsored by the Cherokee County Leadership Advisory Board of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, the Rusk and Jacksonville Chambers of Commerce, Lon Morris College and the Thomas J. Rusk Hotel.

Displayed will be suits worn by astronauts who walked on the Moon during the Apollo program from 1969-72. The suits are multi-layered designed for comfort, utility and protection from the harsh environment of space. A life support backpack was worn to provide cooling, oxygen and communications for the suited astronaut. Cost of the suit is $5,185.

Food eaten by astronauts will be displayed. This food is like most of the items eaten today on Earth.

Space food is packaged differently in most cases and has to meet very strict dietary and nutritional standards.

"The food has to be compact, lightweight and easily prepared," Ms. Brown said. During the Mercury missions in the early 1960s, space food consisted primarily of finely processed food eaten from squeeze tubes and bite sized food cubes or tablets.

Today aboard the space shuttle, astronauts may choose from more than 100 food items that are provided in various forms, such as powdered, freezedehydrated, heat-stablized and natural. Most have to be reconstituted for eating by adding hot or cold water.

Some foods are made more palatable by the use of a variety of condiments and seasonings.