Quick Takeaways
-
NASA’s BioNutrients series is exploring the potential of microorganisms to produce essential nutrients for astronauts during long-duration space missions, addressing the limited shelf-life of certain vital nutrients.
-
The first experiment, BioNutrients-1, tested a hand-held system called a production pack that uses engineered yeast to manufacture fresh vitamins on-demand in space, with experiments beginning in 2019.
-
The study has been extended to nearly six years in orbit, incorporating additional experiments to gather valuable data on nutrient production and yeast growth, with BioNutrients-3 set to launch soon.
- Samples from the experiments will be frozen and returned to Earth for detailed analysis, providing insights into the shelf stability of nutrients produced in space and their potential impact on astronaut health.
NASA is making significant progress in the field of food production for space missions. The agency’s BioNutrients series investigates ways to use microorganisms to create essential nutrients for long-duration space travel. As astronauts prepare for missions to Mars and beyond, long-lasting food sources are crucial for their health.
Many vital nutrients do not have the shelf-life required for multi-year missions. Therefore, producing these nutrients in space could play a critical role in astronaut well-being. The BioNutrients project employs a biomanufacturing approach akin to the making of familiar fermented foods, such as yogurt. However, this experiment focuses on producing specific amounts and types of nutrients tailored for astronauts.
The first experiment, BioNutrients-1, examined the stability and performance of a handheld production system designed to manufacture vitamins on demand. This system uses an engineered yeast microorganism. BioNutrients-1 began after several production packs launched to the International Space Station in 2019. These packs included backups in case adjustments were necessary during the five-year study.
As planned, the initial experiments wrapped up in January 2024, with spare production packs still on board. Meanwhile, a team at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California managed parallel experiments on Earth. Recognizing the success of these initial findings, leaders at NASA coordinated to conduct an extended BioNutrients-2 experiment using the spare packs, prolonging the study to nearly six years in orbit.
This extended timeline opens doors for valuable crew observations. These insights will inform BioNutrients-3, which completed its analog astronaut experiment in April 2024 and is set to launch soon. Astronauts will freeze the samples, sending them back to Earth for analysis to evaluate yeast growth and nutrient production.
Overall, this research not only enhances technology development for space food production but also contributes to understanding how we can sustain human life beyond our planet. As NASA continues this important work, it sets the stage for healthier, more resilient astronauts on mission to distant worlds.
Stay Ahead with the Latest Tech Trends
Learn how the Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming everyday life.
Stay inspired by the vast knowledge available on Wikipedia.
SciV1
