Inside NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston, chef-scientists are freeze-drying strawberries by the kilo, preparing in advance a huge shipment of astronauts’ favorite foods for their months’ long foray into space next summer.

Outside though, meals are already secured in the space shuttle Discovery, which is set to launch later today. There’s shrimp cocktail, beef tips with mushrooms, macaroni and cheese, chocolate pudding cake and apple cider, already packed. All the meals need are a few squirts of water from a syringe and they’re rehydrated and ready to go.

Chef-scientists prepare freeze-dried meals at NASA. (Photo by AP GRAPHICS)