Food Technology and Processing

Organic Food & Manufacturing

Space explorers and settlers who are far from the farms and fields of  Earth will need a reliable way to produce food. A continuous supply of nutritious, safe and appealing food is essential for people who are living and working under unusual conditions that require peak physical condition. Food also plays an important role in the psychological welfare of crewmembers by providing familiarity and variety in the diet. The ability to continually produce food is an important element of long-term survival in space that cannot be accomplished by physical or chemical means. Food will have to be grown as quickly, reliably and efficiently as possible. Astronauts on long-duration space missions or settlers on other planets will have to maintain crops in growth chambers protected from the outside environment, but they will still need to supply adequate lighting, nutrients, and a suitable atmosphere. Natural sunlight in transparent greenhouses or artificial lights could satisfy the lighting requirement, but there are tradeoffs. On Mars, for example, sunlight is available for only half of each Martian day, and more light is required for optimal growth of many plant species. In addition, the  sun can be obscured for months by giant dust storms. Higher radiation doses and possible damage from meteoroid impacts are other dangers. On the other hand, artificial lighting systems would be costly to transport and may require a great deal of energy.Food manufacturingHigher radiation doses and possible damage from meteoroid impacts are other dangers. On the other hand, artificial lighting systems would be costly to transport and may require a great deal of energy.