{"id":175780,"date":"2023-05-21T20:54:25","date_gmt":"2023-05-21T20:54:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=175780"},"modified":"2023-05-21T20:54:25","modified_gmt":"2023-05-21T20:54:25","slug":"flies-and-fungus-burgers-to-fill-nasa-astronauts-stomachs-on-way-to-mars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/world-news\/flies-and-fungus-burgers-to-fill-nasa-astronauts-stomachs-on-way-to-mars\/","title":{"rendered":"Flies and fungus burgers to fill NASA astronauts’ stomachs on way to Mars"},"content":{"rendered":"

Space trippers could soon be tucking into protein shakes made from astronauts' breath.<\/p>\n

Voyagers on long journeys to Mars could feast on home-grown black soldier flies.<\/p>\n

Or maybe they could nibble burgers made from fungus.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: ET is '100% on Earth' and has been for 'a long time', claims US government expert<\/b><\/p>\n

The bizarre dishes are all entries in a NASA-led competition to find new sustainable space food for mammoth trips to the furthest depths of the universe.<\/p>\n

The US space agency launched the contest in a bid to solve the problem of what travellers should eat on deep space missions.<\/p>\n

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The 300 million mile trek to Mars would take about seven months one-way with no apparent source of food on the planet when spacecraft touch down – with an identical epic journey home to follow.<\/p>\n

Ralph Fritsche, NASA's senior project manager for space crop production, said: "Currently the pre-packaged food that we use on the International Space Station has a shelf life of a year and a half.<\/p>\n

"We don\u2019t have a food system at this point in time that can really handle a mission to Mars.''<\/p>\n

Planned longer missions to the Moon would present a similar problem.<\/p>\n

NASA launched the Deep Space Food Challenge two years ago to find novel ways to develop sustainable foods for future missions.<\/p>\n

Around 200 entries have been whittled down to 11 which have been handed funding.<\/p>\n

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They had to produce systems that could operate for three years and feed a crew of four on a prospective space mission.<\/p>\n

New York-based Air Company designed a system that could use the carbon dioxide expelled by astronauts in space to produce alcohol which can then be used to grow edible food.<\/p>\n

It already develops alcohols from CO2 for plane fuel and perfume.<\/p>\n

Co-founder Stafford Sheehan said: "It\u2019s making food out of air.<\/p>\n

"It sounds like magic but when you see it actually operating it\u2019s much more simple.<\/p>\n

"We\u2019re taking CO2, combining it with water and electricity, and making proteins.''<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The process produces alcohol that can then be fed to yeast producing "something that\u2019s edible".<\/p>\n

For the competition they made a protein shake which "actually tastes pretty good", Sheehan said.<\/p>\n

For astronauts in space the system would ferment continuously to supply food.<\/p>\n

"Whenever you feel like you want a space protein shake, you make one from this yeast that\u2019s growing,'' Sheehan added.<\/p>\n

Florida-based Interstellar Lab produced toaster-size capsules with their own humidity, temperature, and watering system that will allow insects such as black soldier flies – often cited as a promising protein source – to be grown on a space trip.<\/p>\n

Chief executive officer Barbara Belvisi said: "You can grow mushrooms, insects, and micro-greens at the same time.''<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Swedish firm Mycorena produced a type of protein from the fermentation of fungus to replace animal or plant-based grub.<\/p>\n

Though it does not taste of much Kristina Karlsson, the company\u2019s head of research and development, said it was 60% protein, rich in fibre, vitamins, and nutrients, low in fats and sugars and could be combined with spices and flavouring to mimic a range of food including burgers and nuggets.<\/p>\n

A module attached to the system 3D-prints the fungus into the desired food style.<\/p>\n

"You can pick from a screen and eat a chicken fillet,'' Karlsson added.<\/p>\n

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