LONDON, UK – April 7, 2022 – Eternal Bioworks Corp. (“ETERNAL” or the “Company”), a leading biotech company dedicated to advancing the intersection of technology and biology to address some of the most critical challenges facing our planet, is set to advance its research efforts to support crew nutrition on other planets and space, after winning the first phase of the NASA Deep Space Food Challenge. This initiative is part of an ongoing collaboration with the University of North Dakota (UND) Human Spaceflight Laboratory.
ETERNAL has secured a place in the Space Life Science Lab (SLSL) at NASA Kennedy Space Center, reinforcing its partnership with the UND Human Spaceflight Laboratory. Leveraging the momentum from the NASA Deep Space Food Challenge, ETERNAL is utilizing this new facility to further its mission of providing nutritious, fresh food sources for deep space crews, whether on other planets or in spaceships.
The focus of ETERNAL’s research is an innovative appliance that, when integrated with the spaceship’s life support systems, can produce a fungal-based ingredient called Mycofood. This versatile ingredient allows crews to “print” a variety of recipes with the push of a button.
The device was created -and patented- by ETERNAL with the main objective of bringing superior quality nutrition to every home. Its compact design makes it ideal for confined spaces, such as deep-sea environments, Antarctica, and space.
Pablo de León, a long-term NASA collaborator and avid science-fiction fan, remarked that the concept of “printing a meal by pressing a button” resonated with his childhood memories of watching Star Trek. His deep understanding of spaceship systems ensures that ETERNAL’s appliance receives the correct inputs and additional ingredients needed for optimal operation.
The collaboration between ETERNAL and the UND Human Spaceflight Laboratory has already yielded success, with the teams winning the first phase of the NASA Deep Space Food Challenge. Additionally, products developed by ETERNAL have been tested by the crew of an analogue mission organized by UND.
ETERNAL plans to use the R&D facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center as a platform to integrate other innovations, aiming to make human spaceflight missions less dependent on Earth-based supply chains. This includes developing construction materials that can be produced and used in space, as well as exploring other applications of synthetic biology.
With these advancements, ETERNAL is poised to play a critical role in the future of human space exploration, ensuring that astronauts have access to nutritious and sustainable food sources far from Earth.
About Eternal Bioworks Corp.
Eternal Bioworks Corp. is at the forefront of biotechnological innovation, dedicated to advancing the intersection of technology and biology to address some of the most critical challenges facing our planet. Founded with the vision to revolutionize food systems and material production, Eternal leverages cutting-edge advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and bioprocessing to create sustainable solutions that are not only viable but vital for the future.
For more information, please contact us at [email protected]
