Dr. Rogel Mari Sese, chair of the Ateneo De Davao University - Department of Aerospace Engineering, made clarifications on Friday. December 9, regarding the food eaten by astronauts in space.
Sese denied that astronauts eat 'food pills' or food tablets during space missions
"Yung astronaut pill, actually, may time lang na ginamit siya more on as experimental. Ang katotohanan kasi ang mga pagkain ng astronaut ay hindi siya naka-pill form or tablet lang na kakainin or iinumin," Sese explained during DZRH's Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.
Sese said that astronauts eat mostly dehydrated food that they rehydrate or warm up when they reach the International Space Station.
"Yung mga astronaut kapag, halimbawa, uminom ng parang pill or tablet, mabibigay yung nutritional requirement pero meron rin silang caloric requirement, higher number of calories na kailangan nila. Kailangan din nilang kumain ng totoong pagkain," Sese stressed.
"Kahit ma-meet mo yung nutritional requirement using yung nga parang mga pill, mahihirapan pa rin ang katawan natin kasi hindi naman tayo designed na walang pagkain sa tiyan," he added.
The astrophysicist added that astronauts store their rations mostly inside food pouches to prevent them from spilling on sensitive instruments and types of machinery.
During the confirmation hearing of Science and Technology Sec. Renato Solidum Jr. on Wednesday, December 7, SAGIP Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta brought up the idea of giving astronaut food or food pills to indigent members of the public.
"Kung sakali maka-invent tayo nung kinakain nila, ibibigay ko sa mga mahihirap na kababayan natin. Even for months na hindi sila kakain, hindi sila mamatay," the congressman said.
"Kapag ininom ng mahirap, in two weeks lang, Mr. Secretary na hindi siya bumili ng pagkain, hindi siya nagluto, malaking bagay na iyon," he added.
