Astronauts 3D Print Meat on the International Space Station

The meat has been 3D printed using equipment provided by a Russian medical technology team.

Astronauts have 3D printed meat in space.

(Photo Courtesy: phys.org)

Numerous activists and environmental researches have raised their concerns on the harmful effects of breeding livestock for meat consumption. Not to mention PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) say on this issue.

However, it looks like the future of meat is going to be meatless as a group of astronauts has managed to 3D print meat on the International Space Station.

Invitro, a Russian medical technology company supplied 3D printing equipment to the astronauts and they were able to produce beef, rabbit and fish tissue using magnetic fields in microgravity.

In the current situation, astronauts eat meat that is vacuum-packed and dried although the fact that now they can produce their own meat gives them an option to plan food for longer voyages.

There are other space agencies that are trying to create tissue using 3D printers in space as it is relatively easier to do so in zero gravity.

As far as artificial meat goes, currently there are only plant-based meats that are available from brands like impossible and Beyond.

Since traveling to space is no economical affair, we’re still a long way from 3D printed meat to be made commercially available on Earth. Till then, this could be looked at as a viable food option for astronauts on long space missions.