How much does the average person eat in two years?
There are lots of reasons why a trip to Mars is going to be an amazing challenge. Besides the risks from cosmic rays, micro-meteorites and simple insanity from being cooped up in too small a space for too long, there’s the problem of fuel. The ship has to carry enough fuel to get to Mars and then get back. And the ship has to carry enough fuel — food — for the people on board. If you look at the needs of a typical male, a person needs the following on a daily basis: • 2,500 calories • 83 grams of fat • 60 grams of protein • 25 grams of fiber • A wide assortment of vitamins and minerals We can assume that the food can be supplemented with vitamins and minerals (either mixed in or as tablets), so there’s no need to worry about that part of the equation. The whole problem comes down to calories, protein, fat and fiber. If
