In space, tortillas are a deeply sought-after food. The anonymous journals of astronauts, which detail their most private thoughts from time aboard the International Space Station, repeatedly mention the floury flatbreads.
“We filmed us opening up the unofficial bag and eating the tortillas. They were fantastic. Maybe the best tortilla I ever ate,” wrote one astronaut aboard the ISS, after discovering an extra bag hidden away. “I was told that there would be some in every food package and we get about two a week each. I want two a day,” wrote another.
It’s not just that tortillas hit a particular sweet spot for astronauts – a solid bread base for layering on fillings but not crumbly enough to risk damaging sensitive equipment – but in the vacuum of space, each meal really matters. “Any time a person’s normal sources of gratification are denied, food takes on additional importance,” says Jack Suster, a researcher who advises Nasa on the wellbeing of space crews. Read more