Thai Chicken with the view of planet Earth
mu Space, CP Foods and Nanoracks collaborate to provide Space Grade Food for the aerospace industry.
“As you start sweating from the spiciness of your Thai chicken, you look up to find your wipes, only to see them floating in front of your face in zero gravity, blocking your impeccable view of Mother Earth.”
CP Foods, in collaboration with Nanoracks LLC and mu Space and Advanced Technology Co., Ltd., is embarking on an ambitious project called the Thai Food – Mission to Space program. The aim of this initiative is to send chicken products into space and subject them to rigorous certification processes to meet the safety standards required for space-grade food. By achieving compliance with the demanding Space Food Safety Standards, CP Foods will solidify its global recognition and position its chicken as one of the most trusted meat brands in the world.
The partnership, spearheaded by CP Foods, with Nanoracks LLC, a leading provider of space innovation in the United States, and mu Space, a Southeast Asian manufacturer of space technologies, highlights the commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of this space grade food. The chicken products will undergo extensive safety and quality checks, including inspections for residues and contaminants as per NASA’s requirements.
The Thai Food – Mission to Space program will not only benefit astronauts by providing them with safe and diverse food options but also enhance the safety of food for consumers worldwide. The adherence to space-level safety standards elevates global food safety standards, contributing to Thailand’s reputation of emerging into the aerospace industry.
To further promote the significance of meeting space standards for Thai food, CP Foods, Nanoracks LLC and mu Space Corp hosted a press conference titled “Thai Food – Mission to Space.” The event brought together international experts, including former NASA astronaut Mr. Michael Massimino and former NASA food scientist Ms. Vickie Kloeris, along with individuals from scientific, medical, and livestock development sectors. The event explored topics such as the importance of space-level safety standards for Thai food, innovations in the Thai livestock industry, and future implications for the sector.
mu Space had previously sent electronic components as payloads into space four times. Therefore, through our personal experience mu Space understands that sending anything into space is challenging. We are delighted to see CPF, an expert food company, involved in researching space food to meet high safety standards. It is believed that we will truly elevate the Thai food industry to a new level. In this project, mu Space acts as an intermediary, coordinating between CPF and Nanoracks, an innovative space company in the United States. We also oversee the compliance with operational conditions, including international laws and organizations throughout the project.
Mr. Prasit Boondoungprasert, CEO of CP Foods, expressed his pride in this groundbreaking initiative and emphasized the company’s commitment to food safety and quality. By achieving Space Food Safety Standards, CP Foods aims to position itself among the most trusted meat brands globally and bring immense national pride to Thailand. He had the following to say about this project:
“At CP Foods, our top priority is food safety and quality. Our collaborations with experts like NANORACKS LLC and mu Space have cemented our readiness to demonstrate that Thai chicken adheres to space-level safety standards. Our chickens will be subjected to rigorous safety and quality standards checks, including exhaustive inspections for residues and contaminants as per NASA's requirements."
Former NASA astronaut Mr. Michael Massimino highlighted the importance of residue-free, safe food for astronauts due to its long-term health impacts. He also shared his own experiences of living in space, the type of food they would eat and the way each food would be graded by the astronauts in terms of taste. Mr. Massimino gave the audience a further look into what it really looks like by showing a series of videos demonstrating astronauts eating in space, further adding:
"You want to eat good food – food that is healthy for you, food that doesn't contain chemicals or antibiotics – just like the food that CP has… It also gives a sense of comfort to have food that you like or to enjoy a good meal. Not only does it help with your health, but it also contributes to advancing the mission and to building teamwork.”
Additionally, former NASA food scientist, Ms. Vickie Kloeris commended CP Foods for adhering to stringent safety and nutritional standards, ensuring that the chicken is free from antibiotics, chemical residues, and harmful pathogens. She expressed her delight for astronauts to experience the flavors of Thai cuisine and praised the standard of chicken meat production at CP Foods. Vickie had the following statement regarding this project:
“I am very impressed with the standard of chicken meat production at CP Foods. The chickens are raised without the use of antibiotics and hormones, ensuring that Thai chicken meets NASA's food safety standards. It is certainly a delight for the astronauts up there to experience the Thai chicken menu from Thailand.”
By venturing into space with its Thai chicken, mu Space, CP Foods and Nanoracks demonstrate their dedication to safety and innovation, ultimately redefining global food industry standards. This mission not only benefits astronauts but also enhances the international reputation of Thai cuisine and food safety standards worldwide.
