3D Printing, Food?

Many of us have heard about the new phenomenon of 3D printing, which extends to plastics, guns, and even human organs. But NASA has taken the challenge and believes they can 3D print food. Not only do they believe they can reach their goal, but they believe they will be able to 3D print food in space. If you want to read the NASA article, click here.

Essentially, this article covers the premise of how NASA has funded a company that is in the development phase of a project that would allow food that could be created through a 3D printer. This would allow for a larger variety of food, as well as more space on the spacecraft for other items. So far NASA has funded $125,000 towards this project, and since results are promising they may fund the second stage of a few hundred thousand dollars. NASA funded this project over other similar ones because this one utilizes food rheology and flavour expertise that is most likely required for a usable product system in space.

This newfound technology is important for a few reasons. First of all, NASA is pondering sending astronauts on long-term expeditions in the near future, and the current food support system doesn’t support the five-year shelf life needed to feed astronauts that would be sent to Mars. This new system in development will be able to feed astronauts on long-term missions. Furthermore, with this system there would be a larger variety of food, which would allow for better maintenance and health performance for astronauts. NASA has recognized that this development would act as a prerequisite for additive manufacturing in space for tools and even spacecraft.

Lots of experimentation and research was required to reach this point in the development. Currently they are only in the first stage, and still have to go through the second stage of research and development. Firstly, NASA issued a Small Business Innovation Research Phase 1 contract to Systems and Materials Research Consultancy of Austin, Texas to study the feasibility of this idea. After that they started conducting studies to understand the requirements for the final product, which took around six months. The technology that is being developed will come to complete fruition at the end of phase 2, and it could be a few years after that before it’s used in actual spacecraft.

The three primary applications of this technological advancement would be a larger variety of food in space, a longer shelf life and less use of space, and acting as a prerequisite for additive manufacturing of tools and other objects in space. Astronauts are in space for long periods of time, and having the same pre-packaged food gets boring. With this new system, astronauts would have a variety of food available to them, and thus have better health in space. In the near future, space missions would take a few years to far away places such as Mars, according to NASA, and the current food expires before that, and with 3D printed food it would last at least 5 years, according to the research and current development. Thirdly, this development would act as a subsequent prerequisite for additive manufacturing of tools and other objects. If food can be printed, then it begs the question of what else can be 3D printed. NASA believes that eventually, spacecraft parts and even spacecraft could be 3D printed.

This development is currently impacting society in a large way. While this 3D printer would be designed for more spacecraft, currently 3D printers exist, and everything from plastic toys to guns to human ears have been printed. 3D printers are even in household use, and a small 3D printer can be purchased for around $1200. This technology could be also applied in other aspects, such as helping feed people in poorer countries since it utilizes less space.