Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, who returned to Earth after a 9-month mission, said that she missed fresh food the most in space. But now the new discovery of the European Space Agency (ESA) can bring a solution to this problem. Scientists have started working on a technology to grow food in the laboratory, which can set up a mini food factory on the International Space Station (ISS) in two years. This technology can prepare everything from mashed potatoes to sweets.

At present, it costs about Rs 20 lakh to deliver food to an astronaut daily. Sending food by rocket for Moon and Mars missions is impractical. Dr. Akeel Shamsul, CEO of Frontier Space, says, “Our bioreactor will make proteins and carbohydrates from yeast, which will be converted into delicious dishes.” This prototype sent by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will soon provide data, which will lead to a larger bioreactor going into space by 2026. This technology will not only reduce costs but will also improve the mental and physical health of astronauts. Chefs at Imperial College are working on incorporating Indian, Chinese and French cuisine. This innovation can prove to be a milestone towards self-reliance in space.