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Certain nutrients critical for human health lack the shelf life needed to span multi-year missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. NASA\u2019s BioNutrients-3 is part of an experiment series testing ways to use microorganisms to produce these nutrients in space and on demand.<\/p>\n
The on-demand nature of this experiment is similar to making nutrient-dense fermented foods on Earth, such as how milk is transformed by good bacteria into yogurt. But in this case, there is a focus on producing specific types and quantities of nutrients essential for future space explorers.<\/p>\n
Samples from BioNutrients-3, along with other valuable experiments, are set to return from the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft supporting the company\u2019s 33rd commercial resupply mission for NASA. The spacecraft is set to depart the space station on Thursday, Feb. 26 for its return to Earth. Watch NASA\u2019s live coverage of the undocking and departure starting at 11:45 a.m. EST on\u00a0NASA+,\u00a0Amazon Prime, and the agency\u2019s YouTube channel.<\/p>\n
Once the samples return to Earth, the science team at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center in California\u2019s Silicon Valley will perform analysis procedures. Results from this study can help NASA develop methods to produce vital nutrients that could support human deep space exploration as part of NASA\u2019s Artemis campaign.<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s BioNutrients-3 is part of the Synthetic Biology project, which is funded by the Game Changing Development program within NASA\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n