New Delhi: ISRO Santulan programme has become a key focus area as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) prepares for Gaganyaan mission. ISRO has issued two tenders to create a personalized nutrition and meal support system for selected Gaganyaan astronauts, known as Gaganyatris, during their training at the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) in Bengaluru.
According to official tender documents released by ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre, the initiative aims to ensure astronauts receive customized nutrition plans based on their health, training intensity, and mission requirements.
Why Is ISRO Creating A Special Nutrition Programme
Astronauts undergo physically and mentally demanding training before space missions. To support their health and performance, ISRO has launched a year-long initiative called Santulan, which will provide personalized nutrition support for the selected Gaganyatris.
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The programme is designed to monitor and improve dietary habits, recovery, hydration, body composition, and overall fitness throughout astronaut training.
What Is The ISRO Santulan Programme
The Santulan programme will focus on creating individual nutrition plans for each astronaut. ISRO is seeking a nutrition consultancy that can provide four nutrition experts, including one dedicated nutritionist for each astronaut and one lead nutrition specialist. These experts will regularly assess astronaut health and modify diet plans whenever required.
Continuous Monitoring Of Astronaut Health
The nutrition plans will be based on detailed medical and physiological assessments. These assessments include:
- Blood markers
- Urine analysis
- Body composition measurements
- Metabolic rate evaluation
- Gut microbiome assessment
The collected data will help experts design highly personalized meal plans.
How Will The ISRO Santulan Programme Work
ISRO has clarified that astronaut diets will not remain fixed. Nutrition plans will be updated based on:
- Training schedules
- Recovery requirements
- Travel demands
- Feedback from astronauts
- Medical recommendations
This flexible approach ensures astronauts receive the right nutrients at the right time.
Scientific Nutrition For Peak Performance
The programme aims to optimize:
- Energy levels
- Muscle recovery
- Endurance
- Immunity
- Mental performance
Such support becomes especially important as astronauts prepare for the challenges of human spaceflight.
ISRO Also Looking For Catering Partners
Apart from nutrition consultants, ISRO has released a separate tender for catering services. The selected catering partner will prepare and deliver fresh meals directly to the Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru.
Strict Food Safety Standards
The catering provider must meet several conditions. These include:
- Kitchen located within 10 km of HSFC
- Ingredient traceability
- Food safety compliance
- Accurate calorie calculations
- Proper macronutrient measurements
The contractor must maintain nutritional accuracy within a 5 percent margin.
What Foods Could Be Included in ISRO Santulan Programme
The tender documents contain sample draft menus for cost estimation purposes. These menus include both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
Sample Vegetarian Foods
Some proposed vegetarian items include:
- Sprouted salads
- Vegetable soups
- Millet-based dishes
- Paneer preparations
- Yogurt-based meals
- Fresh fruits
- Hydration drinks
Sample Non-Vegetarian Foods
Draft non-vegetarian menus include:
- Chicken-based meals
- Egg dishes
- Protein-rich soups
- Balanced carbohydrate sources
- Recovery-focused snacks
ISRO has clarified that these menus are only examples and not the final astronaut diet plans.
Will Astronauts Receive Supplements
Yes, when medically required. The final nutrition programme may include supplements prescribed by doctors and nutrition experts. Possible supplements mentioned in draft planning documents include:
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D3
- Protein supplements
- Spirulina
- Omega fatty acids
However, supplementation decisions will be made individually and only after professional evaluation.
Read also: By 2028, India Could Have Its Own Space Station—Here’s ISRO’s Full Plan
FAQs
Nutrition helps astronauts maintain strength, endurance, recovery, immunity, and overall health during intensive training and future space missions.
Yes. ISRO is selecting catering partners and nutrition experts to prepare personalized meals based on each astronaut’s health profile and training requirements.
Santulan is a specialized astronaut nutrition programme launched by ISRO to provide personalized dietary support, health monitoring, and meal planning for Gaganyatris during training.
