Tag

Space Food

All articles tagged with #space food

science4 days ago•16 min saved

Plastic-to-cookie: Microbes bake vanilla cookies from PET bottles

Researchers at Southern Illinois University converted plastic bottles’ PET into edible μBites by breaking PET down with biomass and using engineered yeasts to turn plastic-derived molecules into proteins, vitamins, and flavors, then forming cookie-shaped dough via 3D printing. Aimed at disaster or deep-space food, the approach requires taste-testing approval and currently costs about $60 per kilogram, with ongoing work to add vanilla flavoring and beta-carotene while public acceptance remains a hurdle.

via Gizmodo|

#bioengineering #pet #plastics-recycling

technology5 days ago•2 min saved

NASA-Backed Microbes Turn Plastic Waste Into Edible Space Cookies

Researchers funded by NASA have developed a method to convert PET plastic and agricultural waste into edible proteins, fats, and flavors using engineered yeasts, which are then shaped into 3D-printed cookies. Human testing awaits regulatory approval, but the team envisions such upcycled nutrition aiding astronauts on long missions and offering a future solution for plastic waste in extreme environments. Current production costs are around $60 per kilogram, with potential reductions as efficiency improves and production scales up.

via The Guardian|

#biotechnology #nasa #plastic-upcycling

science3 months ago•42 min saved

Artemis II crew celebrate splashdown with peanut M&M's

After splashdown in the Pacific, the Artemis II crew revealed the first thing they ate back on Earth was peanut M&Ms, and they said they actually really enjoyed the space food; a jar of Nutella floated in the capsule during return, underscoring the edible moments of the mission.

via Yahoo|

#artemis-ii #nasa #peanut-mandms

technology5 months ago•4 min saved

Artemis II’s Self-Contained Space Menu Explained

Artemis II will fly with shelf-stable, ready-to-eat meals designed for Orion’s self-contained, no-resupply mission; the crew helps select a fixed preflight menu with two beverages per person, while no fresh foods are used due to lack of refrigeration and late-load capabilities. Meals are organized into daily breakfasts, lunches, and dinners and are prepared via rehydration or heating using Orion’s water dispenser and a compact warmer. Menu planning accounts for mission phases (launch, transit, re-entry) and tight mass/volume/power constraints, making Artemis II’s menu more fixed than Apollo, shuttle, or ISS offerings while balancing nutrition, safety, and crew preferences in microgravity.

via NASA (.gov)|

#artemis-ii #crew-menu #nasa

science-and-technology8 months ago•2 min saved

NASA's New Leadership and Strategic Shift Under Isaacman

NASA's new administrator Jared Isaacman highlighted the Chinese space oven as an 'upgrade' and emphasized the need for NASA to reassess its traditional practices, especially as China demonstrates advanced food preparation capabilities in space, such as space barbecues, prompting a reevaluation of NASA's approach to innovation and risk in space technology.

via Global Times|

#china-space-oven #nasa #science-and-technology

science-and-technology9 months ago•4 min saved

Europe advances space food with bacterial and protein innovations for lunar and Martian missions

Finnish company Solar Foods is developing Solein, a microbial protein made from microbes, air, and electricity, as a sustainable food source for long-duration space missions, with plans to test its production in space aboard the ISS to improve astronaut autonomy and resilience.

via Space|

#astronaut-nutrition #science-and-technology #solein

science11 months ago•1 min saved

NASA Sparks Curiosity with 'Space Sushi' Photo of Astronauts

NASA shared a photo of space sushi aboard the ISS, showcasing how astronauts enjoy non-perishable, space-efficient meals like sushi with seaweed, spam, tuna, and rice, as well as shrimp cocktail and space pizza made with tortillas, highlighting the variety and ingenuity of space cuisine.

via The Daily Beast|

#astronaut-meals #international-space-station #nasa

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Cockroach Milk: The Future of Dairy with Superior Nutrition

Researchers have decoded the structure of protein crystals produced by the cockroach Diploptera punctata, which are highly nutritious and could serve as a compact, long-lasting food source for space travel and emergency nutrition. Instead of milking insects, scientists are working on replicating these proteins in microbial systems for large-scale production. While not suitable for everyday consumption due to high caloric density, cockroach milk has potential in specialized applications like space missions and nutritional therapy.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#biotechnology #cockroach-milk #nutritional-science

science1 year ago•5 min saved

Astronaut Prepares Space Kimchi Fried Rice Before Return Trip

Astronaut Jonny Kim on the ISS made space kimchi fried rice, while the Expedition 73 crew conducted various scientific experiments, maintained station systems, and engaged in outreach activities, as they prepare to return to Earth.

via Space|

#astronaut-activities #expedition-73 #international-space-station

science-and-technology2 years ago•7 min saved

"Lunar Cuisine: Out-of-This-World Food for Moon Missions"

As NASA's Artemis program prepares to send astronauts back to the Moon, the future of space food is evolving with innovative solutions like protein from bacteria and fungi, and fresh produce grown in microgravity. These advancements not only aim to support long-term space missions but also promise sustainable food production methods that could benefit Earth.

via BBC.com|

#deep-space-missions #innovation #nasa

space2 years ago•4 min saved

"Canadian Treats Await Artemis 2 Moon Astronauts"

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and his crewmates on the Artemis 2 moon mission will enjoy a menu that includes Canadian maple cream cookies, smoked salmon, shrimp curry with rice, and strawberry lavender superseed cereal. The Canadian Space Agency considered factors such as shelf life, texture, and ease of consumption in space when selecting the food. Canada's participation in the Artemis program's moon aims includes supplying hardware such as the Canadarm3 robotic arm for the future NASA Gateway space station.

via Space.com|

#artemis-2 #astronaut #canadian-space-agency

space2 years ago•4 min saved

"Ax-3 Astronauts' Departure from ISS Leaves Peanut Butter Gift and Splashdown Delay"

The departing Ax-3 astronaut crew left a surprise for the International Space Station (ISS) crew by leaving behind some peanut butter in the airlock entrance as they undocked and headed back to Earth. Peanut butter has been a staple of astronaut food for decades, and it was a special treat for the ISS crew, as the Ax-3 mission coincided with National Peanut Butter Day. This gesture adds to the history of peanuts and peanut butter in space, dating back to the Gemini and Apollo programs, and continues to be a part of space missions, including the ISS.

via Space.com|

#astronaut #ax-3-mission #international-space-station

space-exploration2 years ago•1 min saved

"Growing Chickpeas in Lunar Soil: A Breakthrough for Moon Colonization"

Scientists have successfully grown chickpeas in a simulated lunar soil mixture, demonstrating the potential for sustainable agriculture to support future human settlements on the moon and Mars. By modifying the lunar soil with fungus and earthworm poop, the researchers were able to cultivate chickpeas, a protein-rich and nutritious crop that could help sustain astronauts in space. While the results are preliminary and more data is needed, this development marks an important step towards achieving self-sustainability in space exploration and potentially establishing the first falafel shop in space.

via The Messenger|

#chickpeas #lunar-farming #moon-settlement

space-exploration2 years ago•2 min saved

"Lost in Space: NASA Unveils Transformed Tomatoes After 8 Months"

NASA has released footage of two tiny tomatoes that were lost in space for 8 months after being harvested by astronaut Frank Rubio on the International Space Station. The tomatoes were found dehydrated and slightly squished in a plastic bag, but showed no visible microbial or fungal growth. The experiment, part of the eXposed Root On-Orbit Test System (XROOTS), aims to develop techniques for growing plants without soil or other growth media for future space exploration missions. Growing food in space not only provides practical benefits but also has psychological benefits for astronauts.

via Yahoo! Voices|

#hydroponics #international-space-station #nasa

space2 years ago•4 min saved

Thanksgiving in Space: Astronauts' Zero-Gravity Feast!

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are celebrating Thanksgiving with a feast of turkey, duck, quail, seafood, corn, and cranberry sauce. The crew shared a video message expressing gratitude for their unique vantage point of Earth and the need to protect it. They will also enjoy sweet treats like chocolate and pumpkin spice cappuccino. The Thanksgiving care package was delivered by the SpaceX CRS-29 Dragon resupply mission. The astronauts will eat their meals using magnets and Velcro to keep them in place in microgravity, and they won't have chairs or washing up as utensils and food packages are disposed of to prevent bacterial growth.

via Space.com|

#astronauts #expedition-70 #international-space-station