Sustaining Astronauts: Resource Limitations, Technology Needs, and Parallels between Spaceflight Food Systems and those on Earth

Food and nutrition are critical to health and performance and therefore the success of human space exploration. However, the shelf-stable food system currently in use on the International Space Station is not sustainable as missions become longer and further from Earth, even with modification for mass and water efficiencies. Here, we provide a potential approach toward sustainability with the phased addition of bioregenerative foods over the course of NASA's current mission plans. Significant advances in both knowledge and technology are still needed to inform nutrition, acceptability, safety, reliability, and resource and integration trades between bioregenerative and other food systems. Sustainability goals on Earth are driving similar research into bioregenerative solutions with the potential for infusion across spaceflight and Earth research that benefits both.

Automated summary

Food and nutrition play a critical role in human health and performance, essential for the success of space exploration. The current shelf-stable food system on the International Space Station is not sustainable for longer missions, prompting the phased addition of bioregenerative foods. Significant advances in knowledge and technology are still needed to ensure the success and integration of bioregenerative solutions in space and on Earth.