Going on long space missions involves having enough food supplies to last the duration besides catering for oxygen and other essentials to maintain life in space. One of the primary reasons we have no manned space exploration for the planets in our solar system is our dependence on food. Wouldn’t it be easy if astronauts could just swallow pills and survive on them for the duration of the mission?

Unfortunately while Vitamins and Minerals are essential to maintain good health, they are in no way enough to survive on. These are micro nutrients required by the body. In order to stay healthy and active the body will also need to eat major nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Without these the human body will begin to get malnutrition.

As of now there are no pills for carbohydrates, proteins and fats that are enough for survival. The astronaut will have to eat multiple pills of these ingredients for them to be remotely satisfactory for nutrition limits. Needless to say popping a pill to survive is still science fiction. Although it would be interesting, as a science project, to undertake a study of just what all nutrients a human body needs to survive and in what quantity he must consume them.