HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Students at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) got a taste of space living during the university’s first-ever “Astronaut Breakfast Day,” an event designed to showcase the school’s innovative “Health in Space” course. The breakfast, hosted by UAH’s College of Nursing, gave students the chance to sample actual astronaut meals and learn how different disciplines work together to support health in space.
The event featured dehydrated breakfast staples like sausage, biscuits and gravy, along with treats like blueberry muffins and coffee designed for zero gravity. Demonstrations showed how food is prepared and consumed in space, giving attendees a hands-on look at some of the challenges astronauts face when it comes to nutrition.
“Today’s event shows how important nutrition is to astronaut health and well-being,” said Dr. Azita Amiri, associate dean for research and a professor in the College of Nursing. “Astronaut Breakfast Day helps connect students to the key goals of our Health in Space course — using science, health, and engineering to solve the challenges of living in space.”
The course, known as HON 301-H3, is an interdisciplinary honors seminar launched in Spring 2022. Each semester, around 15 students from various majors — including nursing, engineering, biology, psychology, and the arts — explore the physical and mental effects of space on the human body. The course encourages teamwork and problem-solving across disciplines to better understand how humans can survive and thrive in space.
The idea for the program originated from UAH’s long-standing connection with NASA. In the 1990s, the College of Nursing formed a special group called the Nursing Space and Life Sciences Committee, later renamed the Nursing and Aerospace Committee to reflect its broader mission.
Dr. Pam O’Neal, professor emeritus of nursing, helped launch the original initiative. Since then, Dr. Amiri and others have expanded the program to offer more hands-on, multidisciplinary learning opportunities.
“The course gives students a wider view of what it takes to support space missions — from engineering and public health to biology and psychology,” said Amiri. “The breakfast lets students apply what they’re learning in a fun and practical way. It also sparks new ideas on how we can improve astronaut meals for long space flights.”
By merging different fields, UAH hopes to prepare students to tackle complex challenges — not just in space, but in other demanding environments where health, science, and technology must work hand in hand.
Related Topics:
China Builds First Fitness Center for Dogs
Connecticut Autism Health And Fitness Center Builds Strength And Bonds
Pickleball and Paddleboard Yoga Drive New Fitness Trends in Florida
