Space chocolate, packaged by Sipospack Ltd., travels to space

Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu will soon be leaving for the International Space Station (ISS). Although he will be able to take few personal belongings with him, he will have a special Hungarian chocolate: space chocolate, the packaging of which was made by Sipospack Kft.

The national research astronaut program, Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR), was established as part of the space strategy adopted in 2021. Among the interested candidates with astronaut ambitions (247 people applied), Tibor Kapu won the opportunity to participate in a space mission. Tibor, a mechanical engineer, has been preparing for space for some time. His mission-specific training took place at Axiom Space in Houston. It was there that he met the other members of the Ax-4 mission crew: a Polish and an Indian colleague, and their commander, astronaut Peggy Whitson.

Within the framework of the HUNOR program, the Hungarian research astronaut will carry out domestic experiments and scientific initiatives of Hungarian universities, research groups and companies in space. While this process can be considered long, the birth of the space chocolate happened much faster. Tibor Kapu had the opportunity to take some Hungarian-related objects and food with him. Stühmer Édesség dreamed up the Stühmer Moment Corfu space chocolate, and Sipospack Kft. proudly joined this historic, highly significant mission with the packaging.

What should a space chocolate lover know?

verything changes in space – not just gravity, but also the way our senses function. NASA’s Taste in Space goes into detail about how food tastes in space.

One of the main reasons for this is that microgravity causes the body to rearrange fluids, filling the nasal and facial sinuses, reducing the sense of smell and, therefore, the sense of taste. Many people describe this condition as “space fever”. Another study found that in a microgravity environment, the intensity of food aromas, such as coffee, garlic, anise, coriander and cumin, can decrease, and familiar flavors become duller, which is why astronauts often crave more intense, spicy, and powerful flavors. These scientific observations were taken into account when developing Stühmer Moment Corfu Space Chocolate.

The goal was to create a chocolate that not only meets NASA’s strict specifications, but also offers a taste experience that is enjoyable in space, reminiscent of home. The recipe was based on the legendary Stühmer Corfu bar, and the end result is a special chocolate that is resistant to temperature fluctuations, pressure changes and weightlessness, and offers a true culinary pleasure even in space.

How to pack for space?

Food industry regulations are among the most stringent, but food that travels to space has to meet even more requirements. Packaging for space must not only be attractive and practical, but also withstand the special conditions: pressure differences, transportation, extreme storage conditions.

This project was not only a technological challenge for Sipospack Kft., but also a symbolic milestone: proof that a Hungarian family business is capable of representing quality and innovation that even reaches outer space.