French team plans to hatch fish in space to test future Moon-based aquaculture
For the last few years, the innovative Lunar Hatch project has been raising the possibility of space-based fish farming.
This ambitious project aims to prove the feasibility of sea bass aquaculture as a sustainable food solution for future Moon and Mars missions.
The scientific project is spearheaded by Dr. Cyrille Przybyla, a researcher in marine biology for the French National Institute for Ocean Research (Ifremer).
If all goes as planned, the Lunar Hatch could provide sea bass at least twice a week for the lunar inhabitants.
In a seemingly ordinary tank at a French scientific facility near Palavas-les-Flots, sea bass fish are part of the Lunar Hatch project.
Their future offspring are destined to be the first fish launched into space to investigate this bold idea's feasibility.
Fish offers astronauts vital, easily digestible protein, omega-3s, and B vitamins for muscle maintenance in space.
The key challenge is establishing food production so far from Earth.
To address this challenge, Dr. Przybyla suggests sending fertilized sea bass eggs into space.
Reportedly, the journey to the International Space Station would provide the time needed for them to hatch.
Initially, these tiny "aquanauts" will be observed, then returned to Earth for analysis. But the ultimate goal is far grander: establishing lunar fish farms.
It might sound like science fiction, but the groundwork has already been laid.
The 2023 study by Przybyla definitively confirmed the sea bass eggs' ability to withstand weightlessness, a necessity for their journey into space.
Moreover, the aquaculture-raised sea bass eggs successfully passed numerous tests, showing they can endure rocket launch and space travel conditions.
Scientists at the University of Montpellier simulated the powerful propulsion of a Russian Soyuz rocket, proving that the vibrations wouldn't hinder the embryos' development.
They also investigated the effects of cosmic radiation on fish cells during space travel.
The current design plan suggests Lunar Hatch would consist of different radiation-proof compartments for various aquaculture functions, including wastewater management.
One of the initial steps in Lunar Hatch's closed-loop system involves using water sourced from lunar polar ice in the fish tanks. The water used for raising the fish will be entirely recycled, ensuring that no water is wasted.
To supply two weekly fish servings for seven astronauts on a 16-week mission, the Lunar Hatch team estimates a need for around 200 sea bass.
The Guardian reported that the team aims to send 200 fertilized eggs to space. Back on Earth, a control group of 200 sibling fish will be carefully monitored for comparison.
Sending aquatic life into space isn't entirely new.
Reportedly, tiny mummichog fish were the first "aquastronauts" on an Apollo mission in 1973. Guppies, zebrafish, and other fish species have since followed, contributing to our understanding of biology in microgravity at ISS and China's Tiangong space station.
However, this project is different as it looks into creating a sustainable food source for astronauts.
Having completed most of the ground simulation tests, the next crucial step for the Lunar Hatch project is a real space mission.
Przybyla and his team are now awaiting an opportunity with CNES and NASA's Kennedy Space Center to send their precious cargo into orbit. The exact timing remains uncertain, but the hope is for a launch in the near future.
The Moon's harsh environment and numerous logistical hurdles mean it could take many years to establish such a facility.
Nevertheless, the prospect of astronauts enjoying fresh, nutritious food grown on the Moon remains a compelling goal for future space exploration.
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