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NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge sought sustainable solutions for feeding astronauts on long missions. Interstellar Lab's NuCLEUS system won the $750,000 prize. It uses AI to grow plants, mushrooms, and insects in a closed-loop environment, addressing nutritional gaps in prepackaged space food. The system will launch into space next year.
NASA is seeking innovative solutions for nourishing astronauts on long-duration space missions, particularly those headed to Mars. The agency's Deep Space Food Challenge, initiated in 2021, prompted teams globally to create sustainable food systems for these missions. In the mission, Interstellar Lab emerged as the winner, receiving a $750,000 prize in August for its project, NuCLEUS (NUtritional Closed-Loop Eco-Unit System).
The Challenge of Space Nutrition
Going to space presents unique challenges, especially regarding access to fresh and nutritious food. As prepackaged food degrades in nutritional value after seven to eight months in space, astronauts risk deficiencies in vital nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, and B12. Barbara Belvisi, founder and CEO of Interstellar Lab, stated, “Due to solar radiation, the nutritional value of prepackaged food starts to degrade.”
The NuCLEUS Solution
NuCLEUS is a modular system of cubes resembling a tic-tac-toe board, primarily designed to grow vegetable plants, microgreens, mushrooms, and insects. Interstellar Lab has tested a variety of crops, including Daikon radish and broccoli, and plans to expand its offerings. While these foods are fresh and edible, they are intended to supplement astronauts’ diets rather than solely cater to their tastes.
In the final phase of NASA's competition, NuCLEUS produced approximately 22 pounds of plants and insects over 1.5 months. However, a single crew member on a Mars mission would require around 661 pounds of food annually, which emphasizes the need for an upgraded system. Belvisi noted that the current version is a prototype, with future iterations aimed at increasing food production.
AI-Driven Farming in Space
NuCLEUS employs artificial intelligence to optimize growing conditions within each cube. The system manages factors such as lighting, humidity, and temperature, creating an environment conducive to plant growth. “There is this smart system that is adapting itself, and the human has to do very little intervention,” Belvisi explained, highlighting the advantages of automation in space agriculture.
A Closed-Loop System
One of NuCLEUS's key features is its closed-loop design, which minimizes waste. Insects consume inedible parts of plants, and their by-products are repurposed as fertilizer. The system recycles water, resulting in minimal trash generation, a crucial consideration for space missions. Belvisi remarked, “The only outside resources NuCLEUS requires are power, additional water, and time from the crew.”
Future Endeavors
Interstellar Lab plans to launch one of its NuCLEUS systems into space next year, although details about the partnering company remain undisclosed. The prize money will be used to enhance NuCLEUS's hardware and prepare it for space conditions. “It's been three years of hard work,” Belvisi noted, underscoring the dedication behind this innovative project.
As NASA and Interstellar Lab collaborate on sustainable food solutions, the future of space nutrition looks promising, paving the way for healthier missions to Mars and beyond.
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