Upon receiving an email from NASA, Shianna Smart initially doubted its authenticity, assuming it might be a scam like many others. However, after engaging in discussions and gathering more details, Smart, the co-owner of Trails End Buffalo Stix located in Gull Lake, southwestern Saskatchewan, found the experience thrilling, as she shared in an interview with Radio Canada.
Smart was delighted to discover that Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk had selected the bison jerky from her brand to accompany him on the upcoming NASA-SpaceX mission to the International Space Station, scheduled for October 1 pending final approval.
In a previous instance in 2013, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield had enjoyed snacking on the Saskatchewan bison jerky sticks while the business was under different ownership.
Expressing her excitement, Smart mentioned, “I knew it had been to space before, but I never anticipated being asked again, so that was quite thrilling.”
Smart hopes that the bison jerky heading to space will showcase its suitability for various occasions beyond the mission.
“I am hoping lots of people out there see it and realize that it will be great to take for my kids’ lunches, sports, or traveling,” she remarked.
The selected jerky underwent a rigorous evaluation process by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and NASA before being approved for space travel.
Natalie Hirsch, responsible for operational space medicine at the CSA, mentioned that while NASA supplies approximately three-quarters of the food for astronauts, the remaining portion can be customized, with the CSA offering Canadian options.
Discussing the astronaut’s preferences, Hirsch stated, “We meet with our astronauts when they’ve been assigned to a mission and we add what their preferences are, and then based on that, we’ll do a market survey to see what’s out there.”
Criteria for space food selection include an 18-month shelf life, space-compatible packaging, and a no-crumbs policy.
Regarding the importance of local support for small businesses like Trails End Buffalo Stix, Nolan Langer, assistant plant manager at the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre in Saskatoon, emphasized its significance in fostering growth.
Langer highlighted, “The Sask. food centre is one of the