NASA Space Food Research Facility

Key Teaching and Research Missions

Provide an unparalleled opportunity for food science and technology undergraduate and graduate students to obtain hands-on experiential learning on food processing technologies. The students who are hired as student researchers at the Space Food Research Facility (SFRF) work closely with NASA and its contractor (KBR) to prepare foods for the US astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). The students’ primary focus is to assist NASA in preparing thermostabilized foods for the ISS.

The SFRF is unique in that it provides both government, industry, and academic scientists the opportunity to investigate the combination of a variety of food processing technologies such as electron beam (eBeam) pasteurization along with legacy technologies that NASA and its space partners utilize.

Some of the research projects have involved exploring the use of eBeam processing with lyophilization for highly perishable commodities such as fresh fruits to prevent fungal infestation. The research mission of the SFRF is to expand the portfolio of food processing technologies that are available to the government and private space industry.

Primary Equipment

The main pieces of equipment include:

Impact

This facility is of national and international significance. It keeps the US astronauts fed in space and is the corner stone of all manned space missions. The activities of this facility will expand with the expanding commercialization of space.

This is the only facility of its kind in the US. This is an example of Texas A&M University’s leadership in forging an academic-government-private collaboration.

Current or Past Projects Associated with Facility

The following are projects that have been completed using the capabilities of the SFRF