Space travel is more exciting than ever, but one big hurdle remains: food. Right now, astronauts get their meals from Earth, which works for the International Space Station (ISS). But for missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond, shipping food can be impractical and costly.
To tackle this issue, the European Space Agency (ESA) has launched a project called HOBI-WAN, which stands for “Hydrogen Oxidizing Bacteria In Weightlessness As a source of Nutrition.” This innovative effort aims to test a protein powder called Solein that can be created in space with minimal resources.
Angelique Van Ombergen, ESA’s chief exploration scientist, emphasized the importance of this project: “For long missions on the moon or even Mars, we need sustainable solutions for our astronauts.” Solein, developed by Finnish company Solar Foods, is made from microbes, air, and electricity through a gas fermentation process.
While Solar Foods has shown that this technology works on Earth, it needs tweaks for use in space. For example, on Earth, they use ammonia for protein synthesis. In space, they will use urea, which is found in urine.
In the next eight months, Solar Foods will collaborate with OHB System AG to refine the technology for space. If all goes well, they will test Solein production aboard the ISS.
“Our goal is to determine if our organism can grow in space just as it does on Earth,” said Arttu Luukanen, senior vice president at Solar Foods. He noted that the behavior of gases and liquids in microgravity is very different, which could impact how nutrients and gases are transported for the Solein microbes.
Recent surveys show that about 70% of NASA scientists believe food sustainability is crucial for future space missions. With increasing interest and investment in space exploration, the push for innovative food solutions like Solein could change the game. Meeting the food needs of astronauts won’t just support missions; it’ll also pave the way for long-term human habitation off Earth.
As we venture further into space, creating food in a safe and sustainable way could become one of humanity’s greatest achievements.
