From Potatoes to Sweets: European Scientists Gear Up to Cook in Space

International News: Recently, Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams admitted that the worst thing in space was the lack of fresh and delicious food. But now scientists have started working on a technology that can solve this problem. The European Space Agency (ESA) has started work on a technology through which food in space will be grown in the lab and can be prepared there. If this technique is successful, a mini food factory can be set up at the International Space Station (ISS) in the next two years, in which everything from potato spices to sweets can be made.

Why is this technique important?

It costs about 20,000 pounds (about 20 lakh rupees) to send food daily to an astronaut in space. And when NASA and other space agencies are planning to send humans on the moon and Mars for a long time, it would not be possible to send food by rocket every day there. In such a situation, this technique will not only reduce expenses, but will also prove to be a big step towards self-sufficiency in space.

What is a lab-grown food?

Lab-grown food, i.e., food that is prepared with organic techniques in test tubes and machines. In this, elements such as protein, fat, and carbohydrates are developed accurately and then converted into delicious dishes. This technique is also gradually becoming prevalent on Earth. For example, lab-gron chicken is being sold in the US and Singapore, and the lab-grown steak is getting approval in the UK.

How will food be made in space?

Dr. Akil Shamsul, CEO of a company called Frontier Space, and scientists from Imperial College London have sent a small bioria to space, which has a special type of yeast. It was sent to space from the Falcon 9 rocket of the Bioractor SpaceX, and after a few hours it was brought back to the Earth's orbit. Preparations will be made for a large biorobot using its data, which will be sent to space next year.

Importance of both taste and nutrition

Scientists believe that in space, not only nutrition but also taste and diversity are important so that astronauts can eat happily. Chefs of Imperial College are working on making this lab-grown food delicious and attractive dishes. If this experiment is successful, then various dishes like French, Chinese, and Indian will be prepared in the future space.

If fresh, delicious, and nutrient-rich food is available in space, then it will have a positive effect on the health of the astronauts, and their mental state will also be better. This will be a step that can prove to be very important towards improving the quality of life during space travel.