International Space Station
A new project focuses on Solein protein powder, which is produced in a process that uses only microbes, air and electricity, without needing fertile soil, light or water.
One of the most persistent challenges to the success of long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond continues to be the supply of food. Transporting supplies from Earth works for astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), but is unsustainable for deep space travel.
To solve this problem, the European Space Agency (ESA) presented the HOBI-WAN Project (“Hydrogen Oxidizing Bacteria in the Absence of Gravity as a Source of Nutrition”), an experiment that explores the possibility of producing food in space using minimal resources.
The project, part of ESA’s Terrae Novae Exploration Programme, focuses on testing Solein, a protein powder developed by the Finnish company Solar Foods. Solein is created through a unique gaseous fermentation process that uses microbes, air and electricity, meaning it can be produced no sunlight or fertile soil. The result is a versatile, nutrient-rich powder that could serve as a sustainable source of protein for astronauts.
“This project aims to develop a fundamental resource that will allow us to improve the autonomy, resilience and well-being of our astronauts in human spaceflight,” said Angelique Van Ombergen, ESA’s chief exploration scientist. “To live and work on the Moon or travel to Mars, we will need innovative and sustainable solutions to survive with limited resources.”
On Earth, Solein production depends on ammonia as a nitrogen source. In space, however, astronauts could use ureaa compound found in urine, to supply nitrogen to microorganisms, explains .
Over the next eight months, Solar Foods will collaborate with German aerospace company OHB System AG to adapt the technology to microgravity. After validation on the ground, ESA plans to test Solein production on board from the International Space Station (ISS), marking the first attempt to grow edible protein from gaseous fermentation in Space.
“The goal is to confirm that our organism grows in the space environment in the same way as on Earth,” said Arttu Luukanen, senior vice president of space and defense at Solar Foods. “The behavior of gases and liquids in microgravity is very different due to lack of buoyancywhich can drastically affect the transport of nutrients and gases.”
