Sustaining Astronauts: Resource Limitations, Technology Needs, and Parallels between Spaceflight Food Systems and those on Earth

Abstract

Food and nutrition are critical to health and performance and therefore the success of human space exploration. However, the shelf-stable food system currently in use on the International Space Station is not sustainable as missions become longer and further from Earth, even with modification for mass and water efficiencies. Here, we provide a potential approach toward sustainability with the phased addition of bioregenerative foods over the course of NASA’s current mission plans. Significant advances in both knowledge and technology are still needed to inform nutrition, acceptability, safety, reliability, and resource and integration trades between bioregenerative and other food systems. Sustainability goals on Earth are driving similar research into bioregenerative solutions with the potential for infusion across spaceflight and Earth research that benefits both.

Non-destructive real-time analysis of plant metabolite accumulation in radish microgreens under different LED light recipes

“…The most important aspects to be considered are the adequate energy intake, quality, and nutritive value of the food consumed by astronauts. Exploration missions to Mars may require nutritional quality stability for up to five years ( Douglas et al., 2021 ). During this time, the space environment, radiation, microgravity, isolation, confinement, and distance from Earth have a powerful impact on both physiological and psychological health ( Landon et al., 2019 ).…”