Japanese brewery Sapporo is planning the world’s first “Space Beer” produced from barley grown from grain once stored on the International Space Station.
The project isn’t a commercial venture at this point, Sapporo insist their research is intended to prepare them for a time when people spend lots of free time in outer space and will be requiring an alcoholic beverage to help them unwind as they cross the starr*s.
Sapporo’s research is being assisted by a former member of a Russian space project team, who worked on developing methods of space agriculture.
Biologist Manabu Sugimoto, from Okayama University, tells us that barley is ideal for space agriculture.
“Barley can grow in relatively tough environments, such as high and low temperatures, and is rich in fibre and nutrients”
“In the future, we may reach a point where humans will spend an extended period of time in space and must grow food to sustain ourselves,” Sugimoto said.
But as everyone knows, thirst is a much more important survival factor than hunger so developing beer is the logical step to make.
“In the long run, we hope our space research will be not just about producing food, but about enjoying food and relaxing,” Sugimoto said.
Space travel and alcohol, a safe combination?
