Artemis IV: Gateway Gadget Fuels Deep Space Dining

2 min read

A prototype of the Mini Potable Water Dispenser, currently in development at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, is displayed alongside various food pouches during a demonstration at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

NASA/David DeHoyos

NASA engineers are working hard to ensure no astronaut goes hungry on the Artemis IV mission.

When international teams of astronauts live on Gateway, humanity's first space station to orbit the Moon, they'll need innovative gadgets like the Mini Potable Water Dispenser. Vaguely resembling a toy water soaker, it manually dispenses water for hygiene bags, to rehydrate food, or simply to drink. It is designed to be compact, lightweight, portable and manual, making it ideal for Gateway's relatively small size and remote location compared to the International Space Station closer to Earth.

The team at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama leading the development of the dispenser understands that when it comes to deep space cuisine, the food astronauts eat is so much more than just fuel to keep them alive.

"Food doesn't just provide body nourishment but also soul nourishment," said Shaun Glasgow, project manager at Marshall. "So ultimately this device will help provide that little piece of soul nourishment. After a long day, the crew can float back and enjoy some pasta or scrambled eggs, a small sense of normalcy in a place far from home."

As NASA continues to innovate and push the boundaries of deep space exploration, devices like the compact, lightweight dispenser demonstrate a blend of practicality and ingenuity that will help humanity chart its path to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

The image shows a close-up of an engineer's hands as they operate a Mini Potable Water Dispenser. The engineer is holding the white, handheld device, which features a large, graduated syringe-like component and is marked with various yellow labels and instructions. The engineer is rehydrating a vacuum-sealed food pouch, which he is holding in one hand while the other hand operates the dispenser. The food inside the pouch appears to be a mix of ingredients. The engineer is wearing a blue checkered shirt. — An engineer demonstrates the use of the Mini Potable Water Dispenser by rehydrating a food pouch during a testing session at Johnson Space Center on June 6, 2024. This compact, lightweight dispenser is designed to help astronauts prepare meals in deep space.
NASA/David DeHoyos

The image shows a close-up of the Mini Potable Water Dispenser prototype. The device is primarily white with yellow tape on it and has several instructional labels on its surface. It features a prominent graduated syringe-like component for precise water measurement, marked in milliliters, and a black push button at the top. The device has a handle on one side for easy portability. The background consists of a white grid pattern, which helps draw attention to the device. Partially visible in the foreground are vacuum-sealed food pouches, indicating the device's use for rehydrating food. — A close-up view of the Mini Potable Water Dispenser prototype during a testing demonstration at NASA's Johnson Space Center on June 6, 2024.
NASA/David DeHoyos

A NASA food scientist smiles as she rehydrates a food pouch using the Mini Potable Water Dispenser during a demonstration at Johnson Space Center. The scientist holds the food pouch steady while another person manually operates the handheld device, which is designed to dispense water for preparing meals and maintaining hygiene on the Gateway lunar space station. — NASA food scientists rehydrate a food pouch during a test of the Mini Potable Water Dispenser at Johnson Space Center on June 6, 2024.
NASA/David DeHoyos

The image shows a close-up of a person filming a demonstration with a smartphone. The scene being recorded involves the use of a Mini Potable Water Dispenser to rehydrate a vacuum-sealed food pouch. The person's hand is holding the device while directing water into the pouch, which is positioned on a table. The smartphone's screen is clearly visible in the foreground, displaying a live video of the demonstration in progress — A NASA food scientist captures video of the Mini Potable Water Dispenser during testing at Johnson Space Center.
NASA/David DeHoyos

The image shows a group of three people engaged in a demonstration of the Mini Potable Water Dispenser. The person on the left, wearing a checkered shirt, is holding the device and showing its operation to the others. The person in the center is closely examining a vacuum-sealed food pouch being held by the person with the dispenser, while pointing or assisting in the demonstration. The person on the right, wearing glasses and a floral-patterned top, is attentively observing the process, holding a smartphone, possibly ready to capture the demonstration. — Matt Rowell, an engineer from the Marshall Space Flight Center demonstrates the Mini Potable Water Dispenser to NASA food scientists during a testing session.
NASA/David DeHoyos

The image shows two individuals standing side by side as they demonstrate the Mini Potable Water Dispenser. The person on the left, dressed in a blue shirt, is holding the device, while the person on the right, wearing a light purple shirt, is explaining how to use it. The person on the right is gesturing with his hands, explaining the device's functionality or the process of rehydrating food. The device is connected to a hose and features a large, graduated syringe-like component. — Project manager Shaun Glasgow (right) demonstrates the Mini Potable Water Dispenser.
NASA/David DeHoyos

The image shows a person smiling as they try the Mini Potable Water Dispenser for the first time. The individual, dressed in a gray polo shirt and green pants, is holding the white, handheld dispenser in one hand while examining a vacuum-sealed food pouch in the other. — Brett Montoya, a lead space architect in the Center for Design and Space Architecture at Johnson Space Center, rehydrates a package of food using the Mini Potable Water Dispenser.
NASA/David DeHoyos

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