Shianna Smart, the co-owner of Trails End Buffalo Stix in Gull Lake, southwestern Saskatchewan, received an email from NASA regarding Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk’s selection of their bison jerky for the upcoming NASA-SpaceX mission to the International Space Station. Initially skeptical, Smart was thrilled after confirming the authenticity of the email. This isn’t the first time bison jerky from the brand has made its way to space; back in 2013, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield enjoyed the same snack while in orbit.
Expressing her excitement, Smart hopes that the space-bound jerky will demonstrate its suitability for various purposes like school lunches, sports snacks, and travel essentials. The approval process for the jerky involved evaluations from both the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and NASA to ensure its compatibility beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Natalie Hirsch from the Canadian Space Agency explained that astronauts can customize a portion of their food supplies, with CSA providing Canadian options. As for the selected food items, they must have an 18-month shelf life, space-friendly packaging, and no crumbs to meet the strict requirements for space travel.
Local support plays a vital role in the success of small businesses like Trails End Buffalo Stix, according to Nolan Langer, the assistant plant manager at the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre. The center has been instrumental in producing jerky for nearly two decades, offering essential processing services to local clients. In addition to bison jerky, Canadian products like maple syrup and salmon also make their way to space from various regions across the country.