In a new study published in The International Journal of Astrobiologya team of scientists suggests that astronauts could use an unusual food source: asteroids.
As the New York Times helpfully points out, scientists are not suggesting that space mission crews should be munching on rocks. The idea is to first use a combination of chemical and physical processes before giving the suspension to the beneficial bacteria.
These microbes could then turn the asteroid debris into “biomass,” which could technically feed future asteroids.
The team of scientists was inspired by a US Department of Defense investigation into ways to recycle plastic containers containing military rations – and possibly turn them into more edible food, they write.
An unusual food source
First, the plastic is broken down into gas and oil through a process called pyrolysis. The oil is added to bacteria in a bioreactor, which turn it into a nutritious biomass.
In extremely simple terms, the team looked for ways to reconstitute carbon into something resembling food.
And the same could be applied like Bennu from space.
“If we fed the microbes only fresh, pristine meteorite, what would happen?” Annemiek Waajen, a postdoctoral researcher at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, who was not involved in the research but investigated the idea, told the NYT.
Scientists still have a lot of work to do
But before the astronauts can get started scientists have a lot of work to do. First, we have no idea whether the resulting biomass is toxic or not.
Besides, we still haven’t figured out how to mine asteroids in the first place. “It’s an idea that’s still a long way off,” Waajen admitted. But scientists are excited to test the idea themselves.
“I already promised to be the first one to eat,” co-author and engineering professor Joshua Pearce of Western University in Ontario told the NYT. “If they survive, we can move on to the next phase.”
