European Space Agency launches mission to grow food in space

The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched an ambitious experiment that could change the future of astronaut nutrition, the BBC reports.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 mission has launched a miniature bioreactor into space to test the feasibility of growing food from cells in microgravity and high radiation. If successful, the experiment could pave the way for autonomous food production in orbit, on the Moon, or even on Mars.

The research, funded by ESA in partnership with British startup Frontier Space and Imperial College London, aims to significantly reduce the cost of delivering food to astronauts, which can currently cost up to £20,000 per person per day.

Lab-grown food is ingredients such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates grown in test tubes using precision fermentation. They can then be processed and shaped into familiar dishes, such as steak or mashed potatoes. This technology is already being used on Earth: the US and Singapore are selling test-tube chicken, and the UK is awaiting approval to sell lab-grown steak.

The samples sent into space will allow for the creation of a larger bioreactor for a future mission to the ISS in 2026.

According to the developers, in the future it will be possible to "print" food on a 3D printer directly in space. This will not only reduce costs, but also provide astronauts with tasty and nutritious meals adapted to the conditions of long-term space missions.