A pound of prevention

"A Pound of Prevention" by G. C. Edmondson is a science fiction story that explores the complexities of space exploration and human resilience. Set in the mid-20th century, the novella follows a crew of astronauts, including General Carnhouser, Hagstrom, van den Burg, and Aréchaga, on a mission to Mars where they confront unexpected health crises rooted in their sterile rations. As the mission wears on, Hagstrom and van den Burg succumb to severe digestive problems due to the lack of living bacteria in the irradiated food, but Aréchaga, immune with his previous exposure, seeks the answer. Eventually, Aréchaga figures out that the food is the problem and reinfects himself with a traditional chili sauce, restoring his gut flora and saving his crewmates from starvation, thus demonstrating the vital balance between precaution and preparedness in the face of the unknown.