Aberdeen scientist to research diet of astronauts

AN ABERDEEN scientist is to boldly go where no man has gone before – delving deep into the diets of astronauts.

Aberdeen nutrition professor Brian Ratcliffe has been appointed to the European Space Agency to look into the nutritional and exercise needs of astronauts.

And his research may also cover whether it would be possible to grow food on the moon.

Prof Ratcliffe, from Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University, will be part of a team of experts reviewing proposals and funding of potential space travel projects.

“Problems start to occur when thinking about flying beyond the moon,” he said.

“There are problems in terms of how much food you can actually carry in the spacecraft and the kind of effects being in an environment without gravity can have.”

The Aberdeen scientist said astronauts’ bones lose calcium in space and that travellers had to be given a balance of nutrients and do specific exercises to keep their strength up.

And Prof Ratcliffe, from the Inverurie area, said innovative ideas had to be considered to make sure astronauts were provided with food on lengthy space expeditions.

“On long-term travel you can’t take enough food with you so you have find other ways – such as to see if it is possible to grow food during a space flight or grow food on the moon,” said Prof Ratcliffe, 55.

Prof Ratcliffe is looking forward to working with other experts to develop the possibility of future expeditions.

“I am very excited, it’s great to be asked and will be great fun,” he said.

The Aberdeen scientist will travel to the European Science Foundation headquarters in Strasbourg next month.