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| 3D Printing |
NASA and a
Texas company are exploring the possibility of using a "3D printer"
on deep space missions in a way where the "D" would stand for dining.
NASA has awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Phase I contract to Systems and Materials Research Consultancy of Austin, Texas
to study the feasibility of using additive manufacturing, better known as 3D
printing, for making food in space. Systems and Materials Research Consultancy
will conduct a study for the development of a 3D printed food system for long
duration space missions. Phase I SBIR proposals are very early stage concepts
that may or may not mature into actual systems. This food printing technology
may result in a phase II study, which still will be several years from being
tested on an actual space flight.
As NASA ventures farther into space, whether redirecting an
asteroid or sending astronauts to Mars, the agency will need to make
improvements in life support systems, including how to feed the crew during
those long deep space missions. NASA's Advanced Food Technology program is
interested in developing methods that will provide food to meet safety,
acceptability, variety, and nutritional stability requirements for long
exploration missions, while using the least amount of spacecraft resources and
crew time. The current food system wouldn't meet the nutritional needs and
five-year shelf life required for a mission to Mars or other long duration
missions. Because refrigeration and freezing require significant spacecraft
resources, current NASA provisions consist solely of individually prepackaged
shelf stable foods, processed with technologies that degrade the micronutrients
in the foods.
Additionally, the current space food is selected before
astronauts ever leave the ground and crew members don't have the ability to
personalize recipes or really prepare foods themselves. Over long duration
missions, a variety of acceptable food is critical to ensure crew members
continue to eat adequate amounts of food, and consequently, get the nutrients
they need to maintain their health and performance.
NASA is funding this phase I six-month $125,000 study on 3D
printing of foods to determine the capability of this technology to enable
nutrient stability and provide a variety of foods from shelf stable
ingredients, while minimizing crew time and waste. NASA selected this proposal
because the research team, subcontractors and consultants included premier food
rheology and flavor expertise that would be required for a novel product
development system. The work plan for this feasibility study also was well laid
out and the technology offers the potential to meet some of the food
requirements using basic food components for long duration missions.
NASA recognizes in-space and additive manufacturing offers
the potential for new mission opportunities, whether "printing" food,
tools or entire spacecraft. Additive manufacturing offers opportunities to get
the best fit, form and delivery systems of materials for deep space travel.
This's why NASA is a leading partner in the president's National Network for
Manufacturing Innovation and the Advanced Manufacturing Initiative.
3D printing is just one of the many transformation
technologies that NASA is investing in to create the new knowledge and
capabilities needed to enable future space missions while benefiting life here
on Earth.
Source:
www.nasa.gov
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1 komentar:
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