Space beer due to the different behavior of the main components barley and yeast in microgravity.
Updated: 2024-04-02
Created: 2018-11-01
Status
Hops have been grown in space and yeast has been space-flown. Research into yeast growth and barley germination in microgravity environment. TRL 9 would be when drinkable (bottled) beer would be made in space.
Applications
- Unique novelty product to capture the interest of new population segments.
- Research into yeast cells is applicable to human cells.
Why & Solution
Yeast and humans are about 70 percent similar in genetics, making these microbes ideal for studying how human cells adapt to space. Spaceflown yeast strains showed DNA and RNA damage and a variety of changes suggesting that microgravity affects core cellular processes. These findings can direct future investigations of environmental modifications to minimize these effects during long spaceflights and to identify drugs to help control harmful effects in humans. The experiments also demonstrate that full genome screening can be done during spaceflight using small-suitcase-sized hardware, significant for future studies in space and extreme environments on Earth. Addresses risks to biological integrity and life-based support systems for long-term occupation in space. Results from this study allow researchers to gain a global perspective to the genes that play a role in survival, in regards to microgravity conditions, and will allow for a more thorough understanding of the effects of microgravity on a model organism. The expectation is that what is observed in yeast is likely to have a comparable effect in mammalian cells. This is supported by the observation that regulatory mechanisms are largely conserved between yeast and mammalian cells. 2
Budweiser’s innovation team selected barley, one of its core ingredients, to be the focus of the first two experiments in space. Malting barley is a process that results in the high-quality malt used in the Budweiser enjoyed today and the research on the International Space Station will unveil how the barley seeds react in a unique microgravity environment. One of the experiments will focus on barley seed exposure with the second testing barley germination. Not only will the research offer insights on steps to creating beer on the Red Planet, but it could also provide valuable information on the production of barley and the larger agricultural community here on earth. 1
- Bottles of beer have been launched to over 30 km in altitude and returned safely on balloons. BridgePort performed such a suborbital mission in 2018.
- Lanikai Brewing Company in Hawaii released “Interplanetary Ale” in 2019 from yeast harvested at the edges of the Earth’s atmosphere. The pilots took along one of Steve’s petri dishes on a regular research flight and opened in up for half an hour in the cockpit to see what they could collect.
- In late 2021, Samuel Adams craft beer company out of Boston announced that it's launching Space Craft, a beer brewed from 66 pounds of hops that traveled more than 300 miles above Earth on the Inspiration4 first-ever all-civilian space mission. A four-pack costs $22.33 as an homage to the Inspiration4 crew's historic spaceflight, which lasted two days, 23 hours, three minutes.
- Yuri's space beer in collaboration with HOSTmi, Hopstronautix and BarthHaas will be named "Galactic Brews".
Companies
Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch) page at Factories in Space
Announced its intention to be the first beer on Mars.
Budweiser is upholding its commitment to be the first beer on Mars by confirming upcoming experiments on the International Space Station with plans to send and study barley – one of its key ingredients – into space.
Hopstronautix page at Factories in Space
- To keep the beer affordable, only a small fraction of the ingredients needs to be in space as the expected result can be already experienced with a small amount.
- Therefore, we launch hops, as they are the most iconic ingredient in beer. Initially, the hops will be launched onboard a sounding rocket to space where they will experience the regime of space for a few minutes, before returning back to Earth using a parachute.
- This small portion of hops will then be incorporated into space themed beer at European and American craft breweries. During a trial experiment, performed in the United States, with Celestial Beerworks of Dallas, Texas, the beer release party was combined with a presentation by the rocket launch provider (EXOS Aerospace) on the mission, the technology behind it, and to overall increase awareness and excitement for space.
- Celestial was immediately sold out of their batch of space beer, and the public provided strong positive feedback in their enjoyment of not only the beer, but the outreach program that came with it.
- The plan is to release an Indian Pale Ale and Imperial Stout (to mimic the black expanse of space). Each batch will be brewed using a portion of hops from a dedicated mission which is indicated on the bottle. The beer is then sold and distributed through Germany, Europe and the United States.
Revenue Estimation
Cost Estimation
Could start with only yeast and/or barley itself, which is a small percentage of mass in a 1 liter of drink.
Earthly Solution Risk
Taste might be imitated eventually, but uniqueness remains.