Interstellar Lab, a small business comprised of team members from France, Texas, and Florida, emerged as the triumphant winner of NASA’s ‘Deep Space Food’ Challenge, securing the coveted $750,000 grand prize for their innovative food system. The challenge, which began in 2021, witnessed participation from over 300 teams hailing from 32 countries, with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) jointly overseeing the endeavor.
### Phase 1 and 2 Selections
The competition progressed through several phases, with the winners being selected in the initial two stages. Subsequently, Phase 3 commenced in September 2023, marking the final leg of the competition. Four American teams were awarded $50,000 each and were granted the opportunity to advance to the third phase, where they were tasked with constructing a full-scale model of their food production system and demonstrating its functionality. The third phase was hosted by the Methuselah Foundation and Ohio State University, with the teams spending two months in Columbus, Ohio, at the university’s campus to test and showcase their technology.
### Rigorous Testing and Evaluation
Throughout the eight-week period in Columbus, the teams had to meet crucial milestones, including palatability, safety, sensory testing, and harvesting volumes. To ensure a comprehensive evaluation, each team was supported by Ohio State students known as “Simunauts,” who oversaw the process and collected vital information for presentation to a judging panel. The rigorous testing and evaluation process aimed to assess the functionality and viability of the food production systems developed by the competing teams.
### Winning Innovation by Interstellar Lab
Interstellar Lab, based in Merritt Island, Florida, clinched the grand prize of $750,000 for their groundbreaking approach to food production in space. Led by Barbara Belvisi, the team utilized a combination of artificial intelligence, advanced equipment, and bioscience to create plant-based ingredients that are suitable for consumption both in space and on Earth. Their innovative growth system enables the self-sustained production of microgreens, vegetables, and essential nutrients, including those derived from insects.
### Runner-Up Innovations
Nolux, a team comprising researchers from the University of California, Riverside, secured the position of runner-up and received $250,000 for their development of an artificial photosynthetic system capable of producing plant and fungal-based foods in environments devoid of biological photosynthesis. Another runner-up, Jim Sears, the sole creator behind the Standing for Safe Appliance, Tidy, Efficient & Delicious (SATED) device, was awarded $250,000 for his invention. Sears’ device enables the generation of customizable food items, such as peach cobbler and pizza, utilizing a combination of in-situ grown ingredients and those with extended shelf-life.
### Future Implications and Acknowledgments
The Deep Space Food Challenge not only celebrates innovation in food production technology but also holds the potential to revolutionize food accessibility on other worlds and our home planet. Amy Kaminski, program executive for NASA’s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing at NASA Headquarters in Washington, commended the winners and all the finalist teams for their dedication and innovative solutions. The advancements made in food production technologies through this challenge could pave the way for sustainable food systems in space exploration missions and beyond.
In conclusion, the winners of NASA’s ‘Deep Space Food’ Challenge have exemplified the spirit of innovation and ingenuity in addressing the critical need for sustainable food production in extraterrestrial environments. The groundbreaking solutions developed by Interstellar Lab, Nolux, and Jim Sears showcase the potential for transformative advancements in food technology that could shape the future of space exploration and enhance food accessibility for astronauts on long-duration missions. Congratulations to the winners and all the participating teams for their remarkable contributions to the advancement of space food systems.