Skylab Medical Experiment Altitude Test (SMEAT) cylindrical aluminum meal/beverage canister, measuring 15.5″ long and 3″ in diameter, labeled on the outside: "SMEAT No….SPT…Pudding," with annotations for "Day" and "Meal." Inside is a lightweight storage rack for hydratable beverage packs, retaining one labeled "Coffee/w Sugar, Day 1, Meal A, PLT." Complete with its screw-on cap. In very good to fine condition, with overall wear and soiling.
SMEAT was a 56-day simulation of an American Skylab space mission from July 26th to September 19th, 1972, at NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas. The three test astronauts simulated space experiments, housekeeping, and leisure activities in a hypobaric chamber. SMEAT provided a baseline for the in-orbit portion of biomedical experiments on Skylab. This type of food/beverage stowage canister was developed by the Whirlpool Corporation for long-duration Skylab missions; storage lockers loaded with these containers served as a pantry for the astronauts during their stay in space.
