Future astronauts may eat asteroids according to a study
According to the study, asteroids could sustain an astronaut for at least 600 years if bacteria were to break down its carbon content.
A novel concept has been put forth by scientists to guarantee food safety for astronauts going on prolonged space missions. A study that was published in The International Journal of Astrobiology suggests that asteroids may be used by astronauts as a source of nutrition.
Devouring on real rocks is not literally the idea, either. Essentially, the goal is to convert space rocks’ carbon content into something palatable. This need stems from the fact that space farming is still in its infancy and astronauts can only carry so much dried food. A professor of engineering at Western University in Ontario named Joshua Pearce told the New York Times that as far as bacteria are concerned, asteroids are comparable to plastic.
Converting Space Rocks into Edible Food
The study, undertaken by experts from Michigan Technology University, was motivated by a US Department of Defence experiment to convert plastic waste into edible food. It involved a pyrolysis process in which the plastic was broken down into solid, gas, and oil. This oil is subsequently provided to bacteria in a bioreactor, which results in a ‘biomass’ with nutritional qualities.
To confirm whether microorganisms eat asteroid material, Annemiek Waajen of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, who conducted separate research, fed microbes fragments of meteorite that had fallen to Earth. Dr. Waajen’s research, published in the journals Astrobiology and Scientific Reports, revealed that the microorganisms flourished after consuming the rocks. “It is still a long way off,” said Dr. Waajen, who was not involved in the study.
Dr. Pearce and his colleagues decided to focus on the asteroid Bennu based on their findings. According to their calculations, it could sustain an astronaut for at least 600 years if bacteria were to break down its carbon content, although slowly.
However, scientists must be certain about one important point. They must conduct several toxicity tests to ensure that the biomass meals intended for the astronauts are safe.
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