French astronaut Thomas Pesquet has brought to light the role of aluminium cans in improving his time in space.
Pesquet has been one of the stars of the recent International Space Station (ISS) missions, captivating audiences with his amusing reports.
When he returned to earth, he was quick to salute the aluminium cans produced by Ardagh Group for pate manufacturer Hénaff.
He said they were of great use to him in his time in space.
Laurent Cordier, sales director of food at Ardagh Group’s metal division, said the cans provided for use in space were certainly one of the company's "more unusual" applications.
"It really does show how some of the inherent advantages of the aluminium can – its light weight, ease of opening, preservation of taste without preservatives, compactness for storage without refrigeration – is so conducive to catering in space,” he said.
The gourmet space cargo, devised by renowned chef Thierry Marx, included beef tongue, chicken with morels, and a pressed gingerbread with exotic fruits.
The food was prepared, conditioned, and preserved in cans by the team at Hénaff.
