Space Mealbox

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More comprehensive design description in Space Mealbox Project Design Report.pdf Space Mealbox Project - Designed to Enhance Astronauts' Dining Experience Designed by : Li Chai , Xiaofan Xu Background To grasp how microgravity impacts on astronauts' lifestyle in numerous aspects, we observed a series of YouTube videos by Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian to walk in space. In one video, Astronaut Chris Hadfield and Chef David Chang Test Gourmet Space Food, where invited Chef David Chang created a recipe for the astronauts, but Chris Hadfield commented that the recipe was "practically impossible to prepare here in space," because every package has to be consumed one by one or they'll float away. Inspired by this video, we decided to design specialized tableware for astronauts to improve their dining experience in space. Our two primary goals for this project are: Design a food container that can mix all ingredients from one recipe together to create a blended flavor, similar to what we enjoy on earth; Design a food scooper that allows the astronauts scoop and consume food from containers without having any food drifting around. Method We used SOLIDWORKS to build our 3D models, as it boasts a clean and straightforward user interface for engineering purposes. Moreover, there are three key reasons why we chose SOLIDWORKS over other 3D modeling software: 1. This software enables us to export our designs in STL files, which can be easily printed on 3D printers. 2. It provides an extensive range of tools and features that make it ideal for creating complex shapes and designs. 3. It is widely used in the industry, making it easy to collaborate with others who are familiar with the software. Design Features by Component Parts 1. Space Lunchbox Ring: Assists control of Bottom Cap Bottom Cap: Can be moved up/down to accommodate different volumes of food and press the food. Main Body: The container for food mixing. Utilizes a golf ball-like surface to achieve anti-slippery properties. Lid: Features a small rod that can be fixed on the main body. The lid can be slid open gradually as astronauts eat, preventing remaining food from flowing outside. 2. Space Spoon Space Spoon Scooper: The inner spoon is similar to a shovel. Can fit in the Shell well so that no food leakage remains in the Shell when the Scooper is pushed out. Its front edge is designed sharp enough to cut harder foods, e.g. steak. Its size is designed for roughly one bite. Scooper Rod: Used to control the Scooper. Can be plugged in/out the Scooper easily when disassembling. Space Spoon Shell: An outer shell to hold the actual spoon and the scooped food inside. Curvature at the end ensures it's comfortable to grasp. Further Improvements & Outlook In the near future, we are eager to present our design to Mr.Dan Barry, who was an astronaut at International Space Station and lives now in the Pioneer Valley, to seek his advice on our designs. In addition, we would like to enhance the following two aspects: We would like to modify the Space Spoon into either a cylinder-like shape—same goes with the shape of the Space Spoon Shell. In this case, the scoop will resemble a standard spoon and be more comfortable for the tongue. We would like to modify the bottom cap of the Space Lunchbox into either a round shape or a flat plate with rounded edges, similar to the bottom of a bowl or a plate, because this shape might be easier for spoons to reach every corner. Acknowledgements We would like to thank Eric Jensen and Dale Renfrow at Smith College, who helped us multiple times print our initial prototypes. We would like to thank Shani Mensing at Mount Holyoke College, who came on campus during weekend helping us print our final design product. We also want to extend our thanks to Prof. Katherine Aidala at Physics department and Prof. Darby Dyar at Astronomy department of Mount Holyoke College, who gave us precious feedbacks on both our designs and final report write-up. Lastly, we thank the Space Design Contest committee for giving us this opportunity and platform to introduce our designs to others