Content:
- Keeping a nutrition diary
- Meal prep like astronauts
- First aid fundamentals
Duration: 1 theory session + 1 practical session per week
AI generated example by ChatGPT 2025-09-05
Goal: Healthy nutrition & understanding your body
A healthy body is just as important in space as it is on Earth—perhaps even more so. On the journey to the Moon, we’re exposed to extreme conditions: zero gravity, limited space, long mission durations, and restricted resources. Anyone preparing for such a journey must learn how to stay strong and fit from the inside out. That’s why this module focuses on nutrition, body awareness, and basic health care.
Keeping a Nutrition Diary – Learning to Read Your Body
What makes your body feel good? Which foods energize you, and which drain you? This activity is about becoming aware of and documenting your nutrition—just like real astronauts, who have to precisely track their food intake.
A nutrition diary helps you recognize patterns, better understand nutrients, and make healthier long-term choices—both on Earth and in space.
What you’ll do:
- Keep a daily nutrition diary—digitally or on paper.
- Note what you eat, when you eat it, and how you feel afterward (e.g., tired, alert, full, anxious).
- Add context: Were you truly hungry or just bored? Stressed or relaxed?
Why it matters:
- Astronauts must keep close track of their energy levels—nothing is left to chance.
- You’ll learn to listen to your body and understand what nutrients it needs—skills that are valuable even on Earth.
Meal Prep Like Astronauts – Testing Freeze-Dried Food
Food in space looks very different from our meals on Earth. In this activity, we test actual astronaut meals used on space stations: freeze-dried, compactly packed, but rich in nutrients.
Together, we’ll prepare space-friendly meals, learn the importance of planning (Meal Prep!), and experiment with real space food. You’ll also find out how to combine taste and health under extreme conditions.
What you’ll do:
- Plan and prep meals for several days in advance—just like astronauts do.
- Try real space food (e.g., freeze-dried fruit, instant meals) and learn how to prepare it—usually with just hot water.
- Create your own “space-friendly” recipes: simple, healthy, shelf-stable meals that take up minimal space.
Why it matters:
- There’s no kitchen on the Moon—every meal needs to be practical, compact, and nutritious.
- You’ll learn to plan smartly with limited resources while still eating well.
Tip: Try simulating a „day in space“: only astronaut meals, no fresh ingredients, limited water. How does it feel?
First Aid Basics – Self-Care in Tight Spaces
There’s no emergency doctor in space. That’s why basic medical knowledge is crucial. In this unit, you’ll learn first aid skills that are useful in everyday life—and critical in extreme situations.
What do you do if someone is injured in zero gravity? How do you treat wounds in cramped conditions? You’ll get hands-on experience in self-care techniques for future space missions.
What you’ll do:
- Attend a first aid training (online or in-person), focused on emergency situations in confined environments.
- Learn:
- Wound care with limited supplies
- How to apply bandages to yourself
- How to respond to dizziness, nausea, or panic
- Simulate small emergencies—alone or in a team—for example: “What if you twist your ankle and no one’s around to help?”
Why it matters:
- In space, you’re often on your own—immediate medical help isn’t available.
- This training builds confidence and practical skills for extreme situations—even on Earth.
Tip: Use training dummies or a mirror to practice self-treatment—real space training for real-life emergencies!
Weekly Structure: Theory & Practice Sessions
Each week includes two sessions:
- 1 theory session (approx. 60–90 minutes)
Focus: Building knowledge, understanding, reflecting - 1 practice session (approx. 90–120 minutes)
Focus: Hands-on experience, application, training
Theory Session – A Foundation of Knowledge
Goal:
Participants gain an overview of the scientific background and connections between nutrition and health in space—presented in a practical, exciting, and interactive way.
Sample structure for a theory session:
- Welcome & Check-In
Quick round: “How did keeping your nutrition diary go this week?” - Knowledge Input
- How does nutrition work in space? (e.g., nutrient needs, digestion in zero gravity)
- Why is hydration critical in space?
- What are common health risks in space? (muscle loss, dizziness, etc.)
- How do routines help keep the body fit?
- Discussion & Exchange
- What surprised you?
- Which of these things also apply to life on Earth?
- Mini Reflection or Group Work
- Small group activity: “Imagine you have to plan meals for a one-week Moon mission—what do you bring and why?”
Practice Session – Hands-On Training
Goal:
Apply what you’ve learned in a practical way. Participants learn by doing: experimenting, creating, and reflecting. This builds real body awareness.
Sample structure for a practice session:
- Warm-Up / Introduction
Light activity to activate circulation (e.g., pulse check, breathing exercise) - Activity 1: Applying Nutrition Skills
- Review your nutrition diary: What patterns do you see? How did your energy fluctuate?
- Set up a meal prep station:
→ Prepare freeze-dried meals
→ Create your own “space meals” (e.g., overnight oats, homemade energy bars)
→ Test packing methods (vacuum sealing, portioning)
- Activity 2: First Aid Training
- Roleplay: “You’re in a lunar habitat—your teammate is injured”
- Practice with real first aid materials (bandages, adhesive plasters, slings)
- Self-care challenge: How do you bandage yourself without help?
- Feedback & Wrap-Up
- What did you learn today?
- What would you do differently in a real space emergency?