The human space age began 12<sup>th</sup> April 1961, when the Soviets successfully launched Yuri Gagarin and one orbit later safely brought him back to Earth. The second man in space was the first to take snack food with him and spend over a day in space. The Soviets developed a zest for space firsts and building space endurance records. Subsequently with the loss of the moon race they focused on space stations and extending space endurance records. In this endeavor they developed food from snacks to hot meals for cosmonauts. They learned how to counteract bone loss in microgravity and conduct fresh food growing experiments. This involved fruits, vegetables and crop growth in miniature greenhouses and small birds and fish as potential food sources.<br/>From 1971 to 2001 the Soviets/Russians launched and worked aboard space stations Salyut 1, 4, 6, 7 and Mir. From 1978 onwards fresh fruit and vegetables were supplied routinely to the space stations by Progress freighters. It was their strategy and to provide proof of concept of a manned trip to Mars and back. This has led to the current cumulative space endurance record of 878 days by cosmonaut Gennady Padalka on 5 missions. This presentation chronologically shows their progress over the missions to live and work in space and counter the ill effects of microgravity; through exercise, medical testing and nutrition.

Health and wellness on Russian spacecraft and stations: Setting space enduration records

2019 Spring National Meeting

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