Freeze-dried ice cream
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[[Image:FREEZE-DRIED IC slice.jpg|thumb|Freeze-dried [[Neapolitan ice cream]], shown with air-tight foil partially unwrapped]]
'''Freeze-dried ice cream''', also known as '''astronaut ice cream'''<ref>This phrase is also a trademark of American Outdoor Products, Inc. [http://www.backpackerspantry.com/prodinfo.asp?number=130001]</ref> or '''space ice cream''', is a brick of dehydrated [[ice cream]] that is always ready to eat, with no need for refrigeration. It was developed by [[Whirlpool Corporation]] under contract to [[NASA]] for the [[Project Apollo|Apollo missions]].<ref name="Space Food">{{cite web
|url=http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/lsda_data/nra_research_data/1994_space_food.pdf
|title=Space Food
|publisher=[[NASA]]
|accessdate=2007-06-07}} The license is now held by Action Products International, Inc.</ref>
[[Apollo 7]] in 1968 was the only NASA mission on which space ice cream flew in [[outer space]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/
|title=NASA Spinoff homepage
|publisher=[[NASA]]
|accessdate=2007-06-07}}</ref> According to a NASA [[food scientist]], although freeze-dried ice cream was developed on request, "[i]t wasn't that popular."<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/informal/features/F_Holiday_Dinner_in_Space_prt.htm
|title=A Holiday Dinner in Space
|date=[[December 15]] [[2005]]
|author=
|publisher=[[NASA]]
|accessdate=2007-06-07}}</ref> Skylab had a refrigerator that was used for real ice cream,<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/astronauts/food-history.html
|title=History of Food in Space
|publisher=[[NASA]]
|accessdate=2007-06-07}}</ref> and occasionally shuttle and [[International Space Station]] astronauts have enjoyed real ice cream.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.livescience.com/blogs/2006/09/16/orbital-ice-cream-atlantis-iss-surprise/
|title=Orbital Ice Cream, Atlantis’ ISS Surprise
|publisher=LiveScience.com
|date=2006-09-16
|accessdate=2007-06-07}}</ref>
[[Freeze drying]] (or lyophilization) removes water from the ice cream by lowering the [[atmospheric pressure|air pressure]] to a point where ice shifts from a [[solid]] to a [[gas]]. The ice cream is placed in a vacuum chamber and frozen until the water crystallizes. The air pressure is lowered, creating a partial vacuum, forcing air out of the chamber; next heat is applied, vaporizing the ice; finally a freezing coil traps the vaporized water. This process continues for hours, resulting in a freeze-dried ice cream slice.
Freeze-dried foods were developed so that foods could be sent on long-duration spaceflights, as to the Moon, and to reduce the weight of the water and oxygen normally found in food.<ref name="Space Food"/>
Freeze-dried ice cream is ubiquitous in [[science museum]] gift shops, sometimes accompanied by other freeze-dried foods such as ice-cream sandwiches, various sliced fruits, and even pizza. It is even sold by [[mail-order]], and is a "top five seller" at the [[Kennedy Space Center]] gift shop.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.thespaceshop.com/neopicecream.html
|title=Astronaut Ice Cream -- Cookies and Cream
|publisher=[[Kennedy Space Center]]
|accessdate=2007-06-07}}</ref>
==See also ==
* [[Space food]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.astronautfoods.co.uk Edu-Sci Ltd - European Distributor of Official Astronaut Foods]
* [http://www.theprofessorstastytechnology.com.au/crunchy-ice-cream.html The Australian version, called "Crunchy Ice Cream", is made by The Professors' Tasty Technology Pty Ltd.]
[[Category:Dried foods]]
[[Category:Human spaceflight]]
[[Category:Ice cream]]