An anti-radiation food ration has been developed for cosmonauts of the future Russian lunar expedition, Head of the ISS [International Space Station) Crew Nutrition Department at the Institute of Medical and Biological Studies Alexander Agureyev told TASS on Friday.

"The cosmonauts’ food ration for the lunar program has already been developed. These are foodstuffs with the enhanced biological activity and radio-protective properties," the researcher said.

As Doctor of Biological Sciences, Head of the Experimental Biology and Medicine Department at the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems Andrei Shtemberg told TASS on Wednesday, as soon as a spacecraft leaves the boundaries of the Earth’s magnetosphere, it starts to be exposed to solar cosmic rays and galactic cosmic rays.

According to scientists’ data, acute disorders of the central nervous system are observed from the impact of galactic cosmic rays, even if at very small doses: the spatial memory and orientation are impaired. As a result, the cosmonaut’s operational activity may be disrupted.

Considering that the flight will proceed when the cosmonauts’ organism is in the process of its acute adaptation to the zero gravity (this period lasts from two to ten days, depending on the conditions and individual specifics), all the foods will be homogenized and have a bland taste.

As they carry out their lunar mission, the cosmonauts will need more protein than on the International Space Station, he said.

"The protein should be in a slightly larger portion than in the cosmonauts’ present-day ration. It has to make up from 12% to 15% of total energy today whereas this share should be 15%-17% there [during the lunar mission]. Also, there should be slightly less fats in the foods," he noted.