Stake Anyone? ESA Funded Project Could See Food Grown In Space

A project receiving funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) has recently hit orbit, enroute to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, specifically, is to utilise a micro-laboratory that’s capable of biochemically engineering food for astronauts on ISS. Cranfield University, and their spin-off company, Frontier Space, are working with Imperial College London, with backing from ESA, to realise the project and conduct testing in orbit. 

Dr Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro from Imperial College’s Department of Bioengineering, commented: “We dream about a future where humanity heads off into the dark expanses of space. But carrying enough to feed ourselves on the journey and at our destination would be unimaginable in cost and weight. If just a handful of cultivated cells could provide all our food, pharmaceuticals, fuels and bioplastics using freely available resources, that would bring the future closer.”

Testing The In-Space Micro-Laboratory That’ll Feed ISS Astronauts 

On 21 April, the consortium launched their automated lab onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. To build the laboratory once in orbit, engineers segmented it into three separate payloads. Once onboard the ISS, scientists will then conduct experiments to validate the original findings collated here on Earth. They’ll also aim to identify if food can be engineered from cells in microgravity. 

If the desired outcome is achieved, this could spell a new-found ability to engineer food in space. Particularly, whilst on other planets – including the Moon or Mars. According to Imperial College London, there’s a hefty price tag that comes with feeding an astronaut in space. Around £20,000 to be exact – and that’s daily. As such, creating culinary delights from tiny cells could save space organisations a significant amount of money. It could also offer astronauts delectable dinners, including steak and mash. 

What ESA, ICL & Frontier Space Aims To Achieve With Their Mini ‘food’ Lab

The solution ESA, Imperial College London and Frontier Space are pitching could see the meal landscape in space changed dramatically. ICL said: “One potential solution is to take microbes called yeasts onboard, which can be engineered to produce such supplies through precision fermentation.” 

As such, the miniature laboratory will have a range of objectives once operational. Scientists will aim to deduce whether pharmaceuticals, fuel, bioplastics, and food can be created outside Earth’s atmosphere. The experiment was originally conducted on solid ground, but the effects of microgravity offer a significantly different experience. As a result, once the specimens are surveyed in orbit, they’ll be sent back to Earth for further analysis. 

Using ESA & ICL’s Micro-Labs To Engineer Food On Distant Planets

Some of the most talked about aspects of space is a human presence on the Moon as well as setting foot on Mars. Elon Musk has been particularly vocal about his intentions to reach Mars. Whereas, NASA are making significant progress with their lunar-based Artemis mission. Therefore, should the experiment yield the expected results, Cranfield University says: “Manufacturing these products in microgravity would solve one of the fundamental problems that need to be addressed before long distance, crewed space missions or off-world manufacturing facilities can become reality.”