Bread in space
June 9, 2017 2:29 PM   Subscribe

One challenge in human space exploration is what's for dinner. Soon astronauts will be able to enjoy freshly baked bread.

Lettuce has been grown in space.

Tomatoes in space are being worked upon.

For a truly unearthly BLT though, you will of course need Pigs in Space.
posted by adept256 (13 comments total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
The very low energy, low heat convection oven they discuss is particularly interesting. I wonder if versions thereof might have a niche in the terrestrial consumer market. There are a lot of applications for a very low energy consumption baking oven (boats, RVs, off-grid homesteads). Like Velcro being first developed for space, then finding its way back home.
posted by darkstar at 2:36 PM on June 9, 2017 [1 favorite]


This post was worth it just for the final joke. Kidding aside- this is super cool. My theory is stuff like replicators will never be possible for food- 3D printing of materials will be a thing, so if we want our promised Star Trek future food will be an important component.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 2:38 PM on June 9, 2017 [2 favorites]


This is really cool on its own, and I hope there are interesting new techniques we can use without being In Space. Maybe it'll be like baking bread in a slow cooker, which I've been meaning to try.
posted by asperity at 2:41 PM on June 9, 2017 [1 favorite]


I read the article mentally pronouncing the company name BAKE! IN! SPAAAACE! so thanks for that last link.
posted by Flannery Culp at 2:57 PM on June 9, 2017


Yes, but can they make pizza in the Space Bread Oven? Or do they have to wait for no-drip tomato sauce? I mean that could make drone-based pizza delivery look like yesterday's tech...
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:00 PM on June 9, 2017


If they ever grow weed on the ISS you'll be able to get Baked In Space.
posted by Rob Rockets at 4:52 PM on June 9, 2017


Vacuum baking in microgravity, imagine the oven spring!

I wonder if you could actually cook in the sunlight out there, set up a few mirrors and get Canadarm on grill duty.
posted by lucidium at 4:52 PM on June 9, 2017


Attention.

This thread has inspired me to bake Earthling bread.

That is all.
posted by darkstar at 4:55 PM on June 9, 2017 [1 favorite]


Not to be too scifi woo but hopefully with the newer trends issues like crumbs will become moot. The Bigelow BEAM that's attached to the ISS seem to be successful, and SpaceX among others is pushing the cost of delivery lower. The current small spaces (in really huge space) have everything jammed together, why not have a fully separate dining bubble with a "crumb lock" perhaps a corridor that blasts air jets on exiting to the more sensitive areas?
posted by sammyo at 5:05 PM on June 9, 2017


Like Velcro being first developed for space, then finding its way back home.

Sorry, it wasn't.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:42 PM on June 9, 2017 [2 favorites]


The current small spaces (in really huge space) have everything jammed together, why not have a fully separate dining bubble with a "crumb lock" perhaps a corridor that blasts air jets on exiting to the more sensitive areas?

It's much cheaper just not to eat crumb-producing food.
posted by Rob Rockets at 6:40 PM on June 9, 2017 [2 favorites]


Argh, that's embarrassing. I've known the true Velcro origin story since forever, and have even taught it in class as an example of learning from nature. I don't know why I repeated the space design origin myth as if I don't know better.

Thanks for the correction, K.G. I'd hate the false story to stand uncorrected. :-/

posted by darkstar at 9:26 PM on June 9, 2017 [3 favorites]


But what's the bread-related character name for Link Hearththrob?

BREEEAD

IIIIN

SPAAAAAAAACE!
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 9:47 AM on June 11, 2017


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