FRENCH FRIES IN SPAAAAAAAAACE

The European Space Agency has been doing their part to get astronauts to Mars by learning how to make French fries in space. Frying food involves complex physics and chemistry; throw in zero gravity and everything becomes more complicated. The European Space Agency built an experimental carousel-type frying apparatus designed to operate in weightlessness. It maintains a constant pressure inside the frying chamber to avoid leaks, to prevent the oil from sloshing around. Experiments were conducted on two parabolic flights, where an aircraft flies in repeated arcs to recreate brief moments of weightlessness. Although more research is needed to fine-tune some parameters, researchers found that say that astronauts will be able to make French fries as they explore new worlds.
* Not every country can land a man on the moon, but some are doing incredibly important research just the same.
* This custom-designed carousel-type frying apparatus – how much does it cost, to the nearest $10 million?
* There’s gonna be grease all over the joystick of the Mars lander, isn’t there?
* So … nobody at the European Space Agency has heard that “air fryers” are the new thing?
* “Here’s an idea: We take the best and brightest of our astronaut candidates, spend millions of dollars training them to the peak of mental and physical ability, and then feed them with the unhealthiest foods possible.”
* Can’t you just see us making first contact with an alien race, and as an opening gesture offering them French fries? We’d have to help them open those little foil packs of ketchup, of course, because of their weird fingers.
* That’s great, fellas. Now do fondue.