flipPre-flight steak and eggs
Pre-flight steak and eggs
Why this dish? On the morning of May 5, 1961, before becoming the first American in space aboard Freedom 7, Shepard had a hearty breakfast of filet mignon and scrambled eggs. This meal, low in residue to limit needs in zero gravity, became THE pre-launch ritual for all of NASA.
A tender seared steak and creamy scrambled eggs, the hearty and reassuring meal that astronauts ate before climbing into the rocket. Simple, rich in protein, calibrated to last for hours without a slump.
Listen to me, kid: at four in the morning, while they were strapping me into the suit, I already had my filet and eggs in my belly. No coffee that shakes a pilot's hands, no stuff that bloats you up there — just honest meat and eggs, enough to hold until the Redstone spits fire. They said a man with a good steak in him fears nothing, and believe me, that morning, I wasn't afraid. Eat like a flyer, and you'll take off with your head high.
- •Beef tenderloin (filet mignon) — one nice piece per person (protein heart of the meal)
- •Fresh eggs — 2 to 3 per person (energy-rich scramble)
- •Butter — a knob (cooking and binding)
- •Salt and pepper — to taste (moderate salt) (seasoning)
- •Orange juice — a glass (accompanying drink)
Pre-flight steak and eggs
A tender seared steak and creamy scrambled eggs, the hearty and reassuring meal that astronauts ate before climbing into the rocket. Simple, rich in protein, calibrated to last for hours without a slump.
Why this dish? On the morning of May 5, 1961, before becoming the first American in space aboard Freedom 7, Shepard had a hearty breakfast of filet mignon and scrambled eggs. This meal, low in residue to limit needs in zero gravity, became THE pre-launch ritual for all of NASA.
Listen to me, kid: at four in the morning, while they were strapping me into the suit, I already had my filet and eggs in my belly. No coffee that shakes a pilot's hands, no stuff that bloats you up there — just honest meat and eggs, enough to hold until the Redstone spits fire. They said a man with a good steak in him fears nothing, and believe me, that morning, I wasn't afraid. Eat like a flyer, and you'll take off with your head high.
Ingredients (period version)
- Beef tenderloin (filet mignon) — one nice piece per person (protein heart of the meal)
- Fresh eggs — 2 to 3 per person (energy-rich scramble)
- Butter — a knob (cooking and binding)
- Salt and pepper — to taste (moderate salt) (seasoning)
- Orange juice — a glass (accompanying drink)
Ingredients
- Beef tenderloin (filet mignon) — 150 g per person (steak to sear)
- Eggs — 3 eggs per person (scrambled eggs)
- Butter — 20 g (cooking)
- Cream or milk — 1 tablespoon (creaminess of eggs)
- Fine salt, black pepper — to taste (seasoning)
Method
- Take the filet out 30 minutes before to bring to room temperature, then pat dry and season.
- Heat a pan over high heat with a little butter and sear the filet for 2-3 minutes per side for rare to medium-rare; let rest under foil.
- Beat the eggs with cream, salt, and pepper.
- In a buttered pan over low heat, cook the eggs gently, stirring constantly for a creamy scramble; remove while still slightly runny.
- Slice the filet, plate with the eggs, and serve immediately with a glass of orange juice.
How it was made : NASA doctors wanted a meal high in protein and low in fiber and residue to avoid any urgent needs during flight. The lean filet and eggs checked all the boxes. The tradition persisted: Neil Armstrong and many others had the same breakfast before their missions.
The contemporary twist : Serve it on a metal tray as a nod to the capsule tray, with a pinch of fleur de sel and the steak sliced fan-style: the 'breakfast of astronauts' brasserie version.
Sources : Smith, Andrew F., 'Eating History', Columbia University Press, 2009 · NASA History Office — accounts of pre-flight routines from Mercury and Apollo programs
Alan Shepard · Charactorium
