"Solein, made by Finnish company Solar Foods, is the protein-rich powder at the center of the pilot. It is created via a process that uses a naturally occurring microbe, fermented with air (split into hydrogen and oxygen via electricity) and trace nutrients like phosphorus and calcium. The result is dried into a powder the company claims is "nutritious, vegan, and caters to every diet" - including, hopefully, astronauts on long-duration missions."
"Solein requires minimal space and raw materials but hasn't been tested in microgravity. Hence the plan for a small-scale gas fermentation pilot, eventually bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS version of the experiment will be housed in a standard middeck locker, which, according to ESA, "will include all components required for the bioreactor, such as an incubator, sensors, control units, and systems for sample extraction.""
Solein is a protein-rich powder produced by Solar Foods using a naturally occurring microbe fermented with air split into hydrogen and oxygen and trace nutrients like phosphorus and calcium. The product dries into a vegan, nutrient-dense powder intended for minimal-space, low-raw-material production for long-duration missions. ESA and Solar Foods plan a ground-based gas fermentation pilot followed by an ISS flight model if successful. Solar Foods won the 2024 Deep Space Food Challenge. OHB System AG is Prime Contractor for the project. The ISS experiment will fit in a standard middeck locker and include incubator, sensors, control units, and sample extraction systems. The pilot could eventually use crew and life-support gases.
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