Shuttle Atlantis to Launch Without ISS Chef Special

When NASA's shuttle Atlantislaunches toward the InternationalSpace Station Wednesday, its six-astronautcrew will leave the chef special at home.

Tucked away among the 750 pounds(340 kilograms) of cargo in Atlantis' middeck lockers are some fresh fruit andvegetables, but no gourmet meals akin to those designed by celebrity chefEmeril Lagasse and launchedto the ISS aboard Discoveryin July, NASA spokesperson William Jeffs told SPACE.com.

Admittedly, the primary mission ofAtlantis' STS-115mission, which is commanded by veteran NASA astronaut Brent Jett, is toresume construction of the ISS and attach two newtrusses and a shiny pair of solar wings that will double the station'scurrent power supply once activated later this year. The mission is setto launch on Sept. 6 at 12:28:46 p.m. EDT (1628:46 GMT).

But the space station'sthree-astronaut crew - Expedition13 commander PavelVinogradov and flight engineers JeffreyWilliams and ThomasReiter - will likely miss the zesty orbital meals dreamed up by Lagasse anddelivered to the ISS during July's STS-121shuttle mission.

"It was so tasty, we absolutelyloved it all," Vinogradov told Lagasse during a space-to-ground phone call lastmonth. "That was a true and wonderful surprise."

Lagasse designed recipes - whichwere prepared and packaged by NASA space food specialists - for mashed potatoeswith bacon, green beans and garlic, rice pudding, mixed fruit and spicy MardiGras jambalaya, the latter of which scored high marks with the Expedition 13crew.

"We have a longing for a little bitspicier food," Reiter told Lagasse. "Our perception of taste is a little bitdecreased."

Lagasse told the ISS crew that hehas been a long-time believer in human spaceflight.

"I have to tell you that ever sinceI was a little boy, I've been a huge fan of the space program," said Lagasse,whose recipes and ISS phone call will be featured in an October episode of hiscooking show "Emeril Live." "I want to say what an absolute honor it is for youto share my food with you."

Williams, NASA's ISS scienceofficer, told Lagasse that food is very important for station astronauts, andnot just because it helps keep spaceflyers alive.

"It's very important for the moraleof the crew," Williams said. "It's going to be very important for futureexpeditions when we leave Earth orbit and go on to Mars."

On Williams' short list of Earthfoods which he misses most are an open cup of coffee - which he can taste morethan the bagged and straw-drunk versions on the ISS - and his wife Anna-Marie'scooking.

"In general, I crave my wife'scooking," Williams told Lagasse. "She's an excellent cook and she makes somegreat salads."

Williams invited Lagasse to join theExpedition 13 crew as their official chef, if - of course - he's ever in theirorbital neighborhood.

 "Now, that woulddefinitely be kicking it up a few notches," Lagasse said.

• VIDEO: First Tasks of NASA's STS-115 Mission
• Gallery: Prepping Atlantis
• Complete Space Shuttle Mission Coverage
• NASA's STS-115: Shuttle Atlantis to Jump Start ISS Construction
• The Great Space Quiz: Space Shuttle Countdown
• Complete Coverage: ISS Expedition 13