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NASA investing in 3-D food printer for astronauts
View(s):CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) – In a scene right out of Star Trek, a Texas company is developing a 3-D food printer for astronauts to create custom meals on the fly. With support from NASA, the firm, Systems and Materials Research Corp of Austin, intends to design, build and test a food printer that can work in space.
“This project is to demonstrate we can create and change the nutrition of the food and be able to print it in a low-gravity environment,” the company’s research director and lead chemist, David Irvin, told Reuters.
Three-dimensional printers create solid objects by depositing droplets of material one layer at a time.
Systems and Materials intends to create nutritionally rich, aesthetically appealing and tasty synthetic food by combining powdered proteins, starches, fats and flavors with water or oil to produce a wide array of digital recipes.
All the ingredients are designed for extremely long shelf-lives, making them suitable for long stays in space. “The 3-D printing system will provide hot and quick food in addition to personalized nutrition, flavor and taste,” the company wrote in its proposal to NASA.”The biggest advantage of 3-D printed food technology will be zero waste, which is essential in long-distance space missions,” it added. Ultimately, the company sees food printers as a way to help feed a world population that is estimated to reach 12 billion by the end of the century. The technology may also have implications for the military. “A 3D-printed food system can reduce military logistics, disposal waste, increase operational efficiency and mission effectiveness especially during wartime,” the company said. “In addition, 3-D printed food can provide optimal nutrient to the soldiers depending on their personal needs and level of physical activities.”
Eventually Irvin sees a day when food printers will play a role in everyday diet and nutrition.
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