No more tin cans. At the end of this year, products for cosmonauts to the International space station, which previously were Packed in iron cans will now be packaged in containers of lamister representing an aluminum foil laminated with a coating of polypropylene film. The transition to lamictalbuy packing will be trial and therefore partial. But in the future the packaging can completely replace the currently used cans.
The choice of lamister is due to the fact that this material weighs significantly less than previous packaging, and therefore will reduce the cost of delivery into orbit, according to “Izvestia” with reference to the research Institute of food concentrates industry and special food technology (Institute Pipt), where the part of products have already started to pack in lamictalbuy packaging. While in a menu of products with new packaging, there are four dishes – squash caviar, a puree of dried apricots, crushed lingonberries and “Snack food”.
Line of packaging in lamister was launched in the Institute in 2016. But it took a while for testing of the modes of production and the first test batch, and tested her qualities. It is expected that the first products in a new container will appear on the ISS at the end of this – early next year.
Technologists say that the food retains its taste in lamister much better than aluminum containers. In addition, the new packaging is easier, which is undoubtedly an important factor when considering the cost of payloads to orbit. In the end, lumisterol packaging easier to open. After use it can be easily crushed (to save space). It is possible that in a few years, the space canned vegetables can be found only only in museums, as it was with the tubes for eating. They, too, suffered such a fate, perhaps, is that with rare exceptions, some products are still using such containers.
Now, basically all products for the Russian ISS crew travel to the station in freeze-dried form or in the form of canned food. Including soups. Exceptions are only a few menu items that are packaged in special tubes: tomato sauce Moldova, relish Apple-cranberry, honey and mustard.
Cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyaev told “Izvestia” that the reduction of packaging volume and the ability to rouse it after a meal — a good thing. But you need to test the ergonomics of lamister in microgravity.
“If the new packaging will be easier, it is more profitable,” — said Alexander Samokutyaev.
“Another issue is the ease of its use in conditions of weightlessness. Opening sprats, you make the effort not to splash the oil. The same space — we’re always trying to hold the cloth cover to the spray flew on Board the station. This requires a special skill: the first time no one managed to open the jar without problems. Perhaps the new packaging will allow such risks to be reduced. On the other hand, if the rigidity of the jars will not, you may need a special skill, skill. It is necessary to try, to experience. On the Ground is not simulated. The ability to crease the packaging is also good. Crews are trying to flatten metal cans, in the trash they take up less space. Of course, plastic containers can be denser stuff in the bags.”
Products for astronauts will be packaged in new containers
Nikolai Khizhnyak