Cosmic journeys of fermented barley beverages
In the realm of space exploration, a new experiment is set to take flight. The NASA Crew-11 mission, scheduled for the future, will see the company Starbase Brewery attempting to brew beer and grow barley in space. This ambitious project, while primarily viewed as advertising, holds significant scientific potential.
Vitaly Egorov, a space development and research expert, believes that businesses are likely to gain more benefits from this experiment than the scientific community. The reason? Understanding how fermentation processes, yeast behavior, flavor development, and biochemical reactions behave in microgravity could advance space biology, biochemistry, and food sustainability for long-duration missions.
However, the costs associated with space experiments, including brewing in microgravity, are substantial. NASA charges $90,000 to maintain a certain environment on the ISS, while the cost of an hour of an astronaut's work is a staggering $130,000. Launching one kilogram of commercial cargo costs about $20,000. These costs, combined with specialized hardware and support on platforms like the ISS, make space experiments expensive.
The ISS serves both scientific and commercial purposes. Scientific experiments, often funded by government agencies or academic grants, emphasize fundamental research and translational benefits. On the other hand, commercial projects, which are increasingly leveraging space platforms for product development and business model testing, have access to private funding and business-driven capital. These commercial interests may include consumer products like space-brewed beer, pharmaceuticals, and materials that derive economic value.
In the past, proposals for orbital stations have grown crystals for microelectronics in space, demonstrating the potential for commercial projects in space research. The research could potentially aid in developing methods for producing food and beverages in space in the future.
Despite the costs, the scientific value of brewing beer in space experiments is undeniable. Understanding how fermentation processes and biochemical reactions behave in microgravity could provide insights into developing new technologies with potential applications not only in space missions but also on Earth.
While specific data on brewing beer experiments in space and their direct scientific outcomes are limited, some studies have helped scientists better understand aging processes or laid the foundation for promising cancer treatments. Partnering with a university can provide partial or even full funding for projects that have scientific value.
Maxim Tsukanov, a space popularizer, however, does not consider brewing beer the most promising current direction for space research. Nevertheless, the potential for commercial and scientific breakthroughs in space is vast, and experiments like the one by Starbase Brewery are a testament to that.
References:
- ISS National Lab resource
- NASA's ISS research and development
- A 2025 paper on private-sector activities on the ISS
- ISS crew labor capacity
- Examples of scientific experiments on the ISS
- The experiment by Starbase Brewery to brew beer in space holds significant potential for advancements in space biology, biochemistry, and food sustainability for long-duration missions, as suggested by Vitaly Egorov, a space development and research expert.
- Despite the substantial costs associated with space experiments, such as the one by Starbase Brewery, Maxim Tsukanov, a space popularizer, recognizes the vast potential for commercial and scientific breakthroughs in space, adding that experiments like these are a testament to the opportunities that lie ahead in this realm.
