Celebrating 50 Years of Out-of-This-World Adventure with Astronaut Ice Cream!
Photo Credit: @theruggedoutdoorsmen
In 1974, NASA came to us, Backpacker's Pantry, with a unique challenge: Can you freeze-dry ice cream?
From that request, our crunchy, yet creamy Astronaut Ice Cream was born! For 50 years, this out-of-this-world dessert has been a staple for space explorers and outdoor adventurers alike.
At Backpacker’s Pantry, we’ve always believed that great adventures deserve great food, whether you're navigating the backcountry or looking up at the stars at camp.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Astronaut Ice Cream, we honor our legacy of innovation and the spirit of adventure that unites us all.
A Brief History of Astronaut Ice Cream
In the 1960s, NASA began to explore the challenges of providing astronauts with nutritious and palatable food during long missions. Traditional food preservation methods were inadequate for the demands of space travel, prompting the need for innovations. One of these innovations was freeze-drying, which removed moisture from food while preserving its flavor and nutrients, making it lightweight and shelf-stable. For a more in-depth account of the history of space food, check out this page.
By 1974, freeze-dried food was a key component of an astronaut’s diet. Freeze-dried ice cream had become a popular idea as a fun and appealing treat for astronauts, and American Outdoor Products (the parent company of both Backpacker’s Pantry and Astronaut Foods) was one of the few companies making freeze-dried food at the time. NASA approached American Outdoor Products and asked us if we could freeze-dry ice cream.
Photo Credit: @miketasticmikey
“They called us, asked us if we did a freeze-dried ice cream,” late owner Rodney Smith recounted. “We said, ‘No, but we can.’” Nobody had ever freeze-dried ice cream before.
Our founder/owner Ron Smith explained that the first rendition of Astronaut Ice Cream “was half a gallon of Neapolitan ice cream that you would buy in the store. It was frozen solid, and then cut with a bandsaw, if you can believe it.” It was then freeze-dried and sold as the original Astronaut Ice Cream.
It was unconventional, but it was successful- we created a product that maintained the taste of ice cream while being suitable for space travel. It hit the shelves in space museums and gift shops all over the nation... and even made its way into space.
Our product line has evolved over the last 50 years, but freeze-dried ice cream has always remained the core of Astronaut Foods. Today, we offer four flavors of freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches and a variety of freeze-dried fruits. Try them today!
Fun Fact: Did you know Backpacker's Pantry was frequently brought aboard the Space Shuttle missions?
