Astronauts may eat a “smear” of their faeces – described as gooey Marmite or Vegemite.
Astronauts may eat their recycled poo.
When on a space mission, they may eat a “smear” of their faeces – described as gooey Marmite or Vegemite.
This is so it can resolve the spaceflight issue of not having enough food for the astronauts to eat on their long-term voyages.
Researchers from Pennsylvania State University, USA, used a four foot-long enclosed, cylindrical system, to determine which microbes came into contact with the waste.
The microbes broke down the faeces, and the methane released led the team to find large amounts of Methylococcus capsulatus.
The bacteria was 52 per cent protein and 36 per cent fat – a good source of nutrition
The researchers found it was almost free of disease-causing pathogens that are in faeces.
Doctor Christopher House, a geoscientist at Pennsylvania State University, USA, said: “It’s faster than growing tomatoes or potatoes.
“We envisioned and tested the concept of simultaneously treating astronauts’ waste with microbes while producing a biomass that is edible either directly or indirectly, depending on safety concerns.
“It’s a little strange, but the concept would be a little bit like Marmite or Vegemite, where you’re eating a smear of ‘microbial goo’.”
Astronauts may eat own recycled poo
