A Quebec company, Happy Yak, has achieved a major feat by supplying a gourmet freeze-dried meal for the Artemis II astronauts. The Cowansville-based firm specializes in preserving flavor and nutrients by removing water and reducing weight, making its meals ideal for space expeditions.
Christine Chénard, a nutritionist and co-founder, developed a shrimp curry for the mission, which Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and the crew consumed aboard the Orion spacecraft. The meal is identical to public offerings, with a slight modification: it rehydrates with warm water, a safety precaution in space where boiling water is hazardous.
Happy Yak's venture into space began in 2018 when astronaut David Saint-Jacques took four of their meals to the International Space Station. The company also famously freeze-dried a chili prepared by Saint-Jacques' wife for him to enjoy in orbit.
Chénard expressed immense pride in contributing to the Artemis II mission and is already looking toward future challenges, including potential missions to Mars.