A German startup founder of Romanian origin is working on having crumb-free bread available for astronauts on the International Space Station and on missions to other parts of the Universe, as regular bread is currently banned in space missions. The stake of an EUR 3 million first phase is not only improving the quality of life for outer space missions and later for space exploration but also selling on Earth sourdough cultures made in space, says Romania-Insider.com.
Sebastian Marcu, born in Germany to a Romanian family, has set up Bake in Space, a company currently working with partners on creating an oven and a special dough that would produce bread without crumbles, says TransylvaniaToday.ro.
“The cost for the overall mission of phase one of our project, which is building the oven and developing the dough is quite high: around EUR 3 million,” Sebastian Marcu told Romania-Insider.com. Helaunched the new project earlier in May at the UK Space Conference and the team has about one year to test the first version in space.
“Our long-term goal is addressing the scientific and technical challenges related to the production of fresh bread in space by re-creating the value chain from grain to baked bread in microgravity and being able to offer a freshly baked slice of home to astronauts and space tourists. Our mission will contribute to laying the foundations for the future of human wellbeing in space,” Marcu added for Romania-Insider.com.
Bread has been banned in space missions for over 50 years, as in zero gravity, crumbs fly everywhere and could harm the eyes or get into electrical panels, potentially causing fires.
Currently based in Bremen, the Romanian, whose parents came from Iasi and Bucharest, is working with the German Aerospace Center and food scientist from different research organizations, each tasked with a part of the project.
“We believe that Bread is our stepping stone for the human exploration of space,” Marcu added. “The current quality of life offered in the International Space Station is not a sustainable condition for humans, and is part of the problem that makes it difficult to send astronauts further to Moon and Mars for extended periods of time and make space accessible for tourism,” the Bake in Space founder also said.
