science

Making a batch of astronaut ice cream is perfect to go along with a space unit or to celebrate National Moon Day on July 20th. Also, you love my page Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages.

National Moon Day was created to commemorate the first time man walked on the moon on July 20, 1969, taken there by Apollo 11.

You can watch that famous moonwalk Restored Apollo 11 Moonwalk – Original NASA EVA Mission Video – Walking on the Moon on YouTube just as many watched it at home over 50 years ago.

 Six hours after landing on the moon, American Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon’s surface. He spent two and a half hours outside the spacecraft.

5 Facts About The Moon Landing

1. It took the spacecraft 4 days and almost 7 hours to reach the moon from their launch at Kennedy Space Center.
2. Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon. He was followed 19 minutes later by Buzz Aldrin.
3. A fragment of wood and a piece of muslin fabric from the 1903 Wright Flyer flew to the moon and back on Apollo 11.
4. During the mission Buzz Aldrin repaired a broken circuit with a felt tip pen, without his sharp thinking they might have been stranded on the moon.
5. After returning from the moon Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins had to quarantine for over two weeks because NASA was worried about them being contaminated with dangerous lunar microorganisms.

Be sure to add Who Was Neil Armstrong to your home library for your child to read and learn more about the first man on the moon.

Next, add more astronaut activities.

Explore More Activities To Go Along With Astronaut Ice Cream

• This Astronaut Paper Plate Craft is such a cute idea to talk about the requirements of the suit and what qualifications astronauts need.
• Another tasty space recipe- Astronaut Pudding is a great activity.
• Incorporate some hands-on science with Fizzing Moon Rocks.
• Dramatic play is such an important part of learning. Learn How to Make an Astronaut Costume that is easy peasy.
• Teach moon phases with an Oreo Cookie Moon Phases activity that will stick and is also tasty too.

Use Outer Space Toy figures to create and explore in a space themed sensory bin.

I love this dramatic play idea for a Moon Rock Exploration Station, all you need is a cardboard box and some rubber gloves for your scientist to get started.

Also, you’ll love these books to add to your study about the moon and astronaut ice cream.

More Space and Astronomy Activities

Additionally, add some of these fun space and astronomy activities.

• About Astronomy and Space Science Fun Quick Unit Study
• Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket
• Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages
• Galileo Discovery of Jupiter Moons and Fun Hands-On Moon Crater Experiment
• Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

Also, add this fun astronomy lapbook for multiple ages.

Finally, look how to make this easy fun astronaut ice cream.

Fun Facts about Astronaut Ice Cream

Now onto the yummy ice cream that you can take anywhere, even on a picnic without worry of it melting.

It is super easy to customize in fun flavors and colors, no plain vanilla here, unless that’s your thing.

Because most of us don’t have the space or the money to keep a big freeze-drying machine on hand, we are going to make a faux astronaut ice cream.

But, don’t worry it is pretty close to the same flavor and texture as the little packages you can buy but much easier to produce.

Basically, these are baked meringues. They can be flavored just about any way you like.

Astronaut ice cream was originally created in 1968 and was first taken and eaten in space on Apollo 7.

But, it wasn’t a big hit with the crew because it was too dry and made a crumbly mess so it never went up again, yet it is still popular at space museums and space centers.

It is really a fun novelty for kids to enjoy and opens the door for discussions on what type of food can be packed and eaten in space.

“’Shoot for the moon; you might get there.”- Buzz Aldrin

How to Make Astronaut Ice Cream

You will need:

• 6 large egg whites, room temp
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• Flavored extract or flavoring oil drops

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

Separate the eggs and add just the whites to a large mixing bowl.

Beat until they start to foam up.

Mix in the cream of tartar and whip for several minutes until soft peaks are formed.

Now add your sugar a little bit at a time until it is incorporated.

Mix in the flavoring, if using mild extracts like cake batter, vanilla, etc. you want about 1 Tablespoon. Peppermint extract is much stronger, and 1 teaspoon is plenty.

Whip until stiff peaks form, you will know when you are at this stage if you pull the beater out and the peaks stay straight up instead of falling over, this usually takes about 7-8 minutes of beating on high.

If you wanted, you could also add food coloring to match the flavors.

You can either place scoops on a parchment paper lined sheet

Or smooth it into silicone molds to get something a little closer to the look of the typical block of astronaut ice cream.

I used these molds that we have also used to make soap in the past, do not spray with nonstick cooking oil or the bottom will stay soggy.

Bake for 2 hours.

Allow to cool and remove from the pan.

This is how they should look, completely dried all the way through the center. If you test one and it’s still a bit wet let them sit in the warm oven a little longer.

I like to serve them wrapped up in aluminum foil, it feels kinda space themed that way.