How will astronauts survive on months-long missions to the Moon or Mars in the future\u2014without resupply from Earth? One possible answer doesn\u2019t grow in fields, but comes from a bacterial culture that is fermented to produce a nutrient-rich protein. Together with the Finnish food tech pioneer Solar Foods, OHB System AG is launching this vision into space on behalf of the European Space Agency: In the HOBI WAN (Hydrogen Oxidizing Bacteria In Weightlessness As a source of Nutrition) project, this innovative food production method is to be tested for the first time in microgravity aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The study phase for the pilot project has now begun and is funded by ESA through the Terrae Novae Exploration Program.<\/p>\n\n
The technology is based on a fascinating principle: the nutrient solution of a bacterial culture is supplied with gaseous hydrogen, oxygen, and CO\u2082 in a bioreactor. Urea serves as the nitrogen source for protein synthesis. Through fermentation, the bacteria convert these substances into \u201csolein\u201d\u2014the name given to the new, protein-rich powder that requires neither farmland nor sunlight. So instead of growing lettuce, carrots, or tomatoes in soil, the protein essentially grows \u201cout of thin air.\u201d The test container for this will be a classic Middeck locker, the type that has been in use on the ISS in orbit for years. It will contain all the components required for the bioreactor, such as an incubator, measuring instruments, control units, and systems for taking samples.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cSince the European Columbus module became operational, OHB has been closely associated with the International Space Station. We have been developing, operating, and maintaining scientific payloads for the station for over two decades. Our deep understanding of the ISS environment, combined with our experience in life support systems and scientific experiment platforms, makes us the ideal partner to bring Solar Foods\u2019 Solein technology into orbit, and we are very much looking forward to this collaboration,\u201d says J\u00fcrgen Kempf, HOBI WAN project manager at OHB. However, the mission goes far beyond testing a novel protein source, according to Kempf. \u201cWe are exploring how we can sustainably support human life in space. The insights we gain here could also help address global challenges on Earth\u2014such as resource scarcity and food security. We are proud to contribute our expertise to a project that combines space innovation with planetary sustainability.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
During the eight-month study phase, a scientific model will first be developed on the ground. The goal is to validate the fundamental processes to determine whether Solein production can also function under microgravity. The Finnish company\u2019s bioprocess technology must be adapted into a compact, autonomous system capable of operating reliably under zero-gravity conditions. For example, special cartridges must introduce gases without any liquid leakage, and almost everyone knows what a highly explosive mixture oxygen and hydrogen can create when they come into contact. A total of three experiments are to be housed in the test box, and the astronauts will also need to take samples during the experiment\u2019s duration. Thanks to experience from previous Biolab experiments, OHB knows which materials and components are well-suited for use in space.<\/p>\n\n
\u00a0\u201cWe are very pleased to be collaborating with OHB. Their expertise in evaluation and certification\u2014particularly with regard to the necessary safety requirements\u2014will help us develop a system that is suitable for the space environment, delivers the required data, and, above all, can be operated safely on a crewed space station,\u201d says Arttu Luukanen, Senior Vice President of Space & Defense at Solar Foods.<\/p>\n\n
If the first phase is successful, the next step will be to develop the flight model with the goal of sending it to the ISS. The HOBI WAN project is part of a growing European commitment to so-called closed-loop systems\u2014that is, systems that autonomously provide water, air, and food. The results are intended not only to advance space exploration but also to provide impetus for sustainable food solutions on Earth\u2014particularly in regions with scarce resources.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The study phase for the European Space Agency\u2019s (ESA) HOBI WAN pilot project has begun \u2013 tests are planned aboard the International Space Station<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ohb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ohb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ohb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ohb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ohb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11518"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ohb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11519,"href":"https:\/\/www.ohb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11518\/revisions\/11519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ohb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ohb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ohb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}