What role is spirulina designated to play regarding calorie sources for long missions?
Answer
Nutritional backbone, supplementing staple sources.
While spirulina offers an immense supply of protein and micronutrients necessary for maintaining health, especially muscle mass and bone density in microgravity, it is relatively lower in the carbohydrates and fats that provide the bulk of the high energy astronauts require. Given the physical demands of space operations and countermeasures against atrophy, sufficient energy intake is paramount. Therefore, spirulina is intended to act as a foundational nutritional supplement, providing the critical protein and micronutrients, rather than entirely replacing the primary, calorie-dense staple foods needed for missions lasting many months or years.
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