Researchers at Waterloo Engineering have developed a relatively simple, inexpensive system to produce algae as a source of protein in space as part of a contest launched by the Canadian Space Agency.
Chemical engineering professors Dr. Valerie Ward and Dr. Nasser Abukhdeir are semi-finalists in the Canadian edition of the Deep Space Food Challenge, which has a $380,000 top prize, to find solutions to sustain astronauts on long missions.
“This is great for growing algae on Earth too because algae can also be used to make biofuels and plastics in a renewable way,” Ward said. “Reducing the cost of the reactors and the water removal steps might make the process more economically competitive.”
Go to Chemical Engineering team semi-finalists in Deep Space Food Challenge for a story with details on the project.