David Bowie, Pink Floyd and Europe are just some of the rockers who have been inspired to write songs about the moon and stars, planets and far-off galaxies. Now NASA wants to inspire people to develop new food production technologies as they set their sites on exploring deep space. Enter the NASA Deep Space Food Challenge that invites anyone interested to join the mission to develop novel, out-of-this-world, game-changing food technologies and systems.

Food in Space Returns Home Benefits

NASA has a long history of developing meals and food packaging for astronauts that eventually became commercial products for those left on earth. To accelerate the effort to meet new food-related needs, as astronauts spend longer time in space and in anticipation of traveling deeper into space, NASA regularly leverages the abilities of creative thinkers and inventors. There remains a gap between meeting spaceflight demands in terms of types and length of missions and the food systems currently available.

Since 2005, NASA has offered the STMD: Centennial Challenges program to engage the innovative thinkers and inventors. STMD is the acronym for the Space Technology Mission Directorate, and one of the exciting events offered under this program is the current NASA Deep Space Food Challenge. This is an opportunity for independent inventors, small businesses, student groups and individuals to develop solutions to two problems at once: meeting the food needs of astronauts on long-term space flights and addressing food insecurity on earth.

The New Challenge: Create New Edibles

NASA has always been a leader in developing new tasty foods and packaging for astronauts for decades. It was NASA that developed squeeze tube foods and freeze-dried snacks popped into the mouth as-is, and from these innovations came spinoff foods that have made life much nicer for people. The spinoffs include shelf-stable foods for home preparation for the elderly (1976) and freeze-dried foods that could be reconstituted with water (1980). Innovative packaging and food preparation devices were also developed over the decades.

Now NASA has delivered a new challenge that will lead to new food production and kitchen equipment to support long-term voyages into space while benefiting people remaining on earth. The Deep Space Food Challenge, administered by the nonprofit Methuselah Foundation, is a clarion call to help the space agency reach its goals.

Bring Creative Solutions

Currently, Phase 1 of the competition is open, giving U.S. and international teams an exciting opportunity to compete in a prestigious event where innovation in food production and packaging will lead to new ways of feeding people in space on long-duration lunar missions. The program also addresses the growing food insecurity on earth due to challenges like underserved communities, climate change and dwindling natural resources.

The specific goals of the Deep Space Food Challenges include the following:

• Develop food for a three-year round-trip mission without the need to resupply
• Feed a crew of at least four astronauts
• Improve food production in urban areas and areas in remote and harsh environments
• Produce the greatest amount of food using the minimal amount of natural resources while creating minimal waste
• Create good-tasting nutritious foods that remain safe and require little processing time

Earn Prizes and Recognition

In Phase 1, the following prizes will be awarded:

• U.S. teams – Using a scoring system, 20 teams will be selected. Each team will receive $25,000 (U.S. dollars) each. If a Phase 2 competition is initiated, the winners of the Phase 1 original teams will be invited to compete.
• International teams – Using a scoring system, 10 teams will be selected. The teams will be given recognition as Challenge winners.

Timeline for Submission and Scoring

The Deep Space Food Challenge was launched on January 12, 2021, so teams may begin registering now. From February 1 through May 28, 2021, NASA will offer a series of webinars to teams already registered and teams considering registration. The webinars will provide critical guidance on developing submissions.

The next steps are as follows:

• May 28, 2021 – Phase 1 registration closes
• July 30, 2021 – Phase 1 team submissions due
• Month of August 2021 – judging panel reviews submissions and selects winners
• Month of September 2021 – judging panel holds a virtual summit to determine winners and team winners are announced

Innovative Submissions Enabling Solar System Exploration

Like any competition, it is important to carefully follow the eligibility and submission requirements. The first step is to read the 24-page NASA Phase 1 Competition Rules document that is available online. It provides all the information you need to understand the objectives of the Challenge, current NASA food system capabilities to improve on and details like constraints and requirements for the design of the innovative food production technology.

Also included in this document is a description of the performance criteria for assessment and the submission process, including required documentation. Judges assign points based on a set of criteria that include items like feasibility of design, terrestrial potential (technology benefits earthlings!), reliability and stability of the food inputs and outputs and safety for human consumption (account for pathogens). A total of 115 points can be earned.

Reaching for the Stars through Innovation

This is an exciting project in so many ways. Individuals or teams of people can become important contributors to NASA’s ability to explore deep space and continue its history of utilizing products made for astronauts to benefit people in general. There are so many opportunities for new technologies and processes. Innovators may:

• Develop foods that retain macro- and micro-nutritional stability for years
• Produce food for space that is enjoyable and delicious
• Provide sustainable fresh food that can manage an extended exploration space voyage
• Enable growing food crops in space
• Develop food production techniques that do not need as much water and/or energy that is typically needed for earth-based food production
• Develop new food production techniques
• Reduce waste and other resources, like storage space and equipment cleaning time
• Reduce the time needed between fresh food generation to consumption while maintaining nutritional quality
• Optimize nutrition, texture, palatability and food safety
• Minimize crew time spent on growing, preparing and consuming food
• Reduce the use of natural resources for food production on earth, especially in areas where resources are scarce or the environment is extreme

Wide Open Space for Innovation

Reviewing the list, it is easy to see that the challenge is a wide open opportunity to develop innovations in food production, nutritional preservation, packaging, preparation for consumption and disposal. This is a challenge that can help astronauts reach Mars and beyond while also contributing a solution to food scarcity on earth. The NASA Deep Space Food Challenge wants innovators who will reach for the stars.