Space Food and Nutrition in a Long Term Manned Mission
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ᇔ ࡵ ბ ࡔ ࣷ ዐ C Advances in Astronautics Science and Technology (2018) 1:1–21 S H C I I N T E U S E A N S O O R CI T https://doi.org/10.1007/s42423-018-0016-2 ETY OF AS ORIGINAL PAPER Space Food and Nutrition in a Long Term Manned Mission Funmilola Adebisi Oluwafemi1 · Andrea De La Torre2 · Esther Morayo Afolayan3 · Bolanle Magret Olalekan-Ajayi4 · Bal Dhital5 · Jose G. Mora-Almanza6 · George Potrivitu4 · Jessica Creech4 · Aureliano Rivolta7 Received: 17 June 2018 / Revised: 30 June 2018 / Accepted: 20 July 2018 / Published online: 25 August 2018 © The Author(s) 2018 Abstract Fulfillment of space exploration mission is key, but much more important are the lives of the explorers. Keeping the astronauts alive, jolly and healthy for long term manned mission has recently being a major and important research area. A major contribution seems to be the food they eat. For short term space manned missions, astronauts food could be taken along with them from Earth, but for manned missions to the Moon, Mars and Venus which are the current research destinations for long term space missions, they must find a means for their nutrition such as growing plants and finding any other alternatives for their survival. As most of these proposed missions have being designed to be one-way missions whereby the astronauts will not come back to the Earth. Good food and nutrition for astronauts help to keep their psychology and physiology in good shape. In this paper, solutions will be made on the various alternatives for feeding astronauts in the long term missions to various celestial bodies: Moon, Mars and Venus, where the atmosphere, gravity, soil, radiation and other conditions vary from one to the other and may not support germination, growth and development of plants. Therefore, review will be done on the following: having fore knowledge of how plants will grow on these celestial bodies by simulating their soils; using mathematical/theoretical models to get the growth rate of plants in relation to the gravity available on these celestial bodies using available data from terrestrial growth (1 g growth) and microgravity/microgravity simulations facilities; getting to know how the plants will be grown such as using greenhouse method as a result of the atmosphere and radiation in these celestial bodies; and other various alternatives for growing plants and having the astronauts well-nourished such as using aeroponics and hydroponics methods. A brief discussion will also be done on food choice for astronauts considering psychosocial and cultural factors. Keywords Astronaut · Moon · Mars · Venus · Space food and nutrition · Possible solutions to plant growth B Funmilola Adebisi Oluwafemi 1 Space Life Science Unit, Engineering and Space Systems [email protected] Department, National Space Research and Development Agency, Km 17 Airport Road, P.M.B. 437, Abuja, Nigeria Andrea De La Torre [email protected] 2 Marist College,, Marcelino Champagnat 2981 Guadalajara, Mexico Esther Morayo Afolayan [email protected] 3 Microbiology Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria Bolanle Magret Olalekan-Ajayi [email protected] 4 Space Generation Advisory Council, c/o ESPI, Schwarzenbergplatz 6, 1030 Vienna, Austria Bal Dhital [email protected] 5 Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, 130 University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia Jose G. Mora-Almanza [email protected] 6 Department of Medicine, University of Guadalajara, 950 Sierra Mojada Street, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico 44340 George Potrivitu [email protected] 7 Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy Jessica Creech [email protected] Aureliano Rivolta [email protected] 123 2 Advances in Astronautics Science and Technology (2018) 1:1–21 Abbreviations NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration CIP International Potato Center NASRDA National Space Research and Development Agency UNOOSA United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs UV Ultraviolent 1 Introduction There are cultural, scientific, and political imperatives that contribute to the drive to explore space. The cultural imper- Fig. 1 The solar system ative is embodied in the innate need of humankind to extend its boundaries and move forward into new domains, in the been a world similar to the Earth. Mars is one of the few process gaining a sense of progress and common accom- places in our solar system where life similar to Earth life plishment. This urge to explore and advance seems to flow may be able to survive. This makes it of particular interest from a survival instinct that is basic to the human species. to us, but it also makes it a location of special concern for The scientific imperative derives from humankind’s desire human exploration. The picture of the solar system is seen in to understand its surroundings, whether to satisfy natu- Fig. 1. ral curiosity, gain material benefit, or dispel fear of the Space food is a variety of food products, specially cre- unknown. This may be another manifestation of the same ated and processed for consumption by astronauts in outer fundamental characteristic of human nature, since scientific space. As nutrition is the process of providing or obtaining thought, observation and experimentation are well docu- the food necessary for health and growth, space nutrition is mented throughout recorded history. We now know that therefore, the process of providing or obtaining the food nec- certain fundamental and compelling questions of our origins essary for health and growth in space. Nutrition has played a and destiny can only be answered by observing phenomena critical role throughout the history of explorations, and space in deep space and by studying the environments of our solar exploration is no exception. Space explorers have always system [1]. had to face the problem of how to carry enough food for Some of these imperatives include: the prediction of their journeys as adequate storage space has been a problem. United Nations that by 2050 the Earth’s human population Long-duration spaceflight will require the right amount of will have grown from 7.6 billion to 9.8 billion and by 2100 to nutrient requirements for maintenance of health and protec- 11.2 billion [2]; the sustainability of world’s population, the tion against the effects of microgravity. Sustaining adequate growing pressures on the environment, global food supplies, nutrient intake during space flight is important not only to and energy resources, humanity needs to start planning to meet nutrient needs of astronauts but also to help counter- leave the safety net of the Earth and look to the stars. Spread- act negative effects of space flight on the human body and ing out to one of our next door neighbors, such as the Moon to avoid deficiency diseases, i.e., food needs to be edible or Mars [3]; in five billion years, our Sun will start to die, throughout the voyage, and it also needs to provide all the expanding as it enters its red giant phase. It will engulf Mer- nutrients required to avoid diseases. For example, because cury, Venus, and, even if it does not swell enough to reach of microgravity, astronauts lose calcium, nitrogen, and phos- Earth, it will still boil off the oceans and heat the surface phorus. Therefore, these lost nutrients need to be gained back to temperatures that even the hardiest life forms could not through food. Space foods usually have the following charac- survive. It is hoped that long before any of these natural or teristics: nutritious, light weight, compact, easily digestible, man-made terrestrial problems come to pass, humans would palatable, physiologically appropriate, well packed, quick to have chosen to leave Earth and move to Mars, the Moon or serve, easy to clean-up, high acceptability with minimum beyond [4]. “If we make it to Mars, we will have answered the preparation. question of whether humanity is fated to be a single-planet National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) or multi-planet species”, Elon Musk [5] says. officials in turn are betting that high-tech 3D food printers, There is this claim that, although the Moon is nearer, mak- using nutrient-laden media as the base material, might help ing access and communications easier, it is Mars that seems further the goal of eventually reaching Mars. 3D printing can to have captured our imagination for a future human outpost. be adjusted on the fly to address both flavor and nutritional Much of this is inspired by evidence that it might have once demands. Potentially, it could be used to make freshly pre- 123 Advances in Astronautics Science and Technology (2018) 1:1–21 3 pared food to the crew-member’s preferences, customize the effect), and reducing temperature extremes between day and foods, and add in specific nutrition over time. That was the night [8]. On the Earth the daylight available is adequate idea, separated out ingredients can be taken that are highly to grow plants. The availability of a significant atmosphere, stable and then, in a completely automated system, mixed and hence greenhouse warming, combined with Earth’s dis- and printed out [6]. tance from the Sun, make Earth’s temperature good for plant Apart from the provision of required nutrients, space growth. The atmosphere of Earth therefore makes it possible nutrition also has many other aspects of impact, includ- for lives survival. ing maintenance of endocrine, immune, and musculoskeletal Soil is the upper layer of Earth in which plants grow, a systems. Nutrition and food science research overlap, with black or dark brown material typically consisting of a mix- integral to many other aspects of space medicine and phys- ture of organic remains, clay, and rock particles. The most iology including psychological health, sleep and circadian important benefits that the soil provides for the plants are: rhythmicity, taste and odor sensitivities, radiation exposure, nutrients, moisture, and aeration and structure.