European Space Agency develops protein powder from urine for astronauts

The European Space Agency has launched a new program that could have astronauts survive on a protein powder made from “thin air” and urine during long missions, the agency said in a press release.

The pilot program aims to test the possibility of using a new protein powder called Solein, which requires air, microbes and electricity to create.

The creation of the powder involves a bacterial culture that is fed with hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen-filled urine.

The substance is being developed with Solar Foods, a Finnish food technology company. The goal with this new technology is to recycle resources produced by the crew and future missions’ habitat life support systems.

The European Space Agency has begun funding a project to develop the protein powder that could eventually be used on the International Space Station.

The first steps of this new project, the HOBI-WAN (Hydrogen Oxidizing Bacteria In Weightlessness As a source of Nutrition) project, will begin by developing and testing this technology on the ground before testing on the International Space Station.

“This project aims at developing a key resource which will allow us to improve human spaceflight’s autonomy, resilience and also the well-being of our astronauts,” Angelique Van Ombergen, the European Space Agency’s chief exploration scientist, said in a statement.

“For human beings to be able to implement long-duration missions on the Moon, or even one day, to go to Mars, will require innovative and sustainable solutions to be able to survive with limited supplies,” she said. “With this project, we, the European Space Agency, are developing a key capability for the future of space exploration.”

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