Natural protein production anywhere by using air and electricity.
Created: 2020-08-07
Updated: 2025-01-05
Company - Solar Foods
Product/Service - Solein
- Classification
- In-Space Manufacturing
- Category
- In-Space Manufacturing
- Fields
- Food for Earth
Food for Space
- Status
- Development
- First launch
- Not announced
We are introducing a game-changing natural protein for the global food industry. Produced from CO2, water, and electricity, our unique pure single-cell proteins are independent of agriculture, weather and the climate. They open a new world of unimaginable protein choices while creating new sustainable food diversity.
Manufactured Food. Single-cell protein production by means of gas fermentation.
- With missions that go beyond LEO and the Moon, a small-scale Solein production unit moves from a cost-saving procedure to the realm of possibilism.
- A flight to Mars would take at least seven months, plus another seven months for the return trip (and that’s in optimal conditions). Any mission would need a way to produce food during the flight: taking more than a year’s worth of food for a crew of six quickly runs into the limitations of storage space. Instead of filling the cargo bay with foodstuffs and water, it makes sense to launch things that can only be produced on Earth – anything else is a waste of precious cargo capacity. A Solein production unit could solve these challenges.
One of the 7 Phase-3 challengers of the Deep Space Food Challenge.
Solar Foods one of the Phase III winners of the NASA Deep Space Food Challenge, 2024-08-20.
- The win provides compelling evidence that producing nutritionally rich Solein® in space is one of the most attractive food production solutions for long space missions, where the possibilities to prepare food are extremely limited. Solar Foods is solving this challenge by recreating the Solein bioprocess to fit smaller confines, while drastically improving the water economy of our future spaceships.
- “Our mission is to solve the global food crisis and, of course, Solein is primarily meant to be enjoyed on Earth. But outer space is the ultimate stress test of a circular economy: it represents both an opportunity to advance the history of science and a chance to grow and diversify our business. We are beyond excited to help take humanity deeper into space, while at the same time developing Solein production for extreme conditions here on Earth,” says Arttu Luukanen, Senior Vice President of Space & Defence at Solar Foods.
- Success in the preceding phases of the challenge is testimony to the attractiveness of the company’s solution for space food production. Solar Foods’ space concept produces Solein according to the same microbial gas fermentation technique that the company uses to grow the novel protein on Earth. Any space habitat has ample amounts of hydrogen available, as a by-product of oxygen generation for the crew, as well as CO2 exhaled by the crew. When integrated into the on-board environmental control and life support systems of a spacecraft, the food production system will be able to utilise both the CO2 as well as waste hydrogen from the on-board oxygen generation system that is currently vented overboard.
- “Walking home with the victory from Phase III, we anticipate that this major merit will boost our profile both with space agencies and with companies developing commercial space stations. Solar Foods is looking forward to working together with agencies and companies to accelerate the development – and subsequent deployment – of our technology in orbit, on the Moon and eventually on Mars,” Luukanen concludes.
Status Comment / Notes
Solar Foods has been selected as the international category winner in the NASA Deep Space Food Challenge.
Similar Organizations
Invitro
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Demonstrated
Golden Fleece
In-Space Manufacturing, 3D Printing Electronics
Dormant
Pioneer-class Space Station, Voyager-class Space Station
In-Space Manufacturing, Commercial Space Station, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Robotic Space Station
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production
Concept
Metal3D, PERIOD
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
Space meat
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing, Resources - Oxygen
Dormant
Allevi ZeroG
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Concept
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Development
Universal Glass Optics Manufacturing Module
In-Space Manufacturing, ISS Utilization Service
Development, Demonstrated
In-Space Assembly, In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Development
Miscellaneous, In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Science
Launched
ISSpresso
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production, On-Orbit Servicing
Early stage, Concept
SATED (Safe Appliance, Tidy, Efficient & Delicious)
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), Space Return Service, Phoenix
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
SMARTER
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Concept
Universal Food Fabricator (UFF)
In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
Space Advocacy, In-Space Manufacturing, Consulting Service
Active
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
SEER
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Equipment
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Early stage
ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
Braskem Recycler
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
In-Space Manufacturing
Development, Cancelled
In-Space Manufacturing
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Mining
Cancelled, Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Development
Cosmic Eats
In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Space Construction Company, Space Construction Equipment
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company, Space Robotics
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Resources
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Surface Habitats
Dormant, Early stage
Jaguar 1
Commercial Rover, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
CANGrow
In-Space Manufacturing
Cancelled, Concept
Ecos
In-Space Manufacturing, Hardware, Medical Support, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
WATNEY
In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
GREEN/CASE
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production
Dormant
KURO
Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Workspaces, Microgravity Science, Microgravity Simulation, In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Commercial Rover, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing
Cancelled, Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
SpaceFORM, Space Fibers
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated, Dormant
ATOM, MERCURIA
Software, Microgravity Simulation, In-Space Manufacturing
Development
VERA Station
Commercial Space Station, Space Station Module, Space Construction Company, In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Hardware
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Concept
Cookies in Space
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Tourism Support
Launched
Novel Orbital Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass Efficient Design (NOM4D)
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Resources - Water, In-Space Manufacturing
Early stage
ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
Phoenix Orbital Transfer Vehicle
In-Space Manufacturing, Orbital Transportation, Space Tug, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
BioPod, NUCLEUS
Surface Habitats, In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Early stage
Ray, Arc
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, ISS Utilization Service
Active
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Chloe NanoClima
In-Space Manufacturing
Cancelled, Concept
In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
SpaceCUBE
In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production
Dormant
In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated, Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Early stage, ?
LEAP
In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, In-Space Joining
Development, Concept
In-Space Manufacturing
Cancelled
ARAM
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Robotic Arm, On-Orbit Servicing
Development
Farview Observatory, Lunar South Pole Oxygen Pipeline
In-Space Manufacturing, Resources - Energy, Space Construction Company
Early stage
Arachne Station
In-Space Manufacturing, Commercial Space Station
Early stage
TerraBox
Resources - Energy, Resources - Oxygen, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing
Development
COPMA
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
Microgravity Science, In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
Canadaarm3, SKYMAKER
On-Orbit Servicing, Space Robotics, Commercial Rover, Resources - Energy, In-Space Assembly, In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
The Metalysis FFC Process for Extra-Terrestrial Oxygen Production from ISRU
ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing, Resources - Metal, Resources - Oxygen
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
Microgravity Research Associates
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Early stage
Outpost Mars Demo-1
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly
Demonstrated
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Promyc
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
In-Space Manufacturing
Early stage, ?
Orbital Can Station, MDRS FARMM
Commercial Space Station, Surface Habitats, In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Concept
Space Junk Recycler
ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing
Development
3D BioFabrication Facility (BFF)
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Demonstrated, ?
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Research Payloads
Development, Launched
IMPERIAL
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Tubular Truss Additive Manufacturing (TTAM)
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
.png "Optomec")
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company, Space Robotics
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Tourism Support
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Development, Launched
Ferry, Cargo Ferry, Carryall
In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development, Launched
CosmicMaker
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Development
Space Truck
Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Orbital Transportation
Cancelled, Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Ranger
Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Communications Relay, In-Space Manufacturing, On-Orbit Servicing, In-Orbit Inspection, Beyond-LEO Remote Sensing, In-Space Logistics, Transport Service (LEO-GEO)
Development, Launched
In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Cancelled
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, Landing Pads, Space Mining
Development
PIL-BOX
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Ceramics Manufacturing Module (CMM)
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly
Demonstrated
Industrial Crystallization Facility, ICF
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly
Demonstrated
Greenhouse
In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Redwire Fiber Optics, Glass Alloy Manufacturing Machine (GAMMA)
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
Additive Manufacturing Facility, AMF, FabLab
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly
Demonstrated
MSTIC
In-Space Manufacturing
Development, Launched
Archinaut, Optimast, STAARK
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Robotic Arm, Space Robotics, Hardware
Development, Cancelled
3D BioFabrication Facility (BFF), 3D-BioSystem Facility
In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Research Payloads
Demonstrated
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Early stage
Stargate, Terran-R, Terran-1
Surface Habitats, Space Construction Company, Commercial Space Station, In-Space Manufacturing
Concept, Development
RUBY SKY, JAM: Jervis Autonomy Module , LUNINT
In-Space Manufacturing, Deep Space Navigation
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
Oryx, Mini Space Brake (MSB)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Resources - Water, Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Mining, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Dormant
Veggie, XROOTS
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Resources - Space Debris Utilization
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Development
SEuPS – Space Euglena Production System
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Concept
Aperture
In-Space Manufacturing, Surface Habitats
Concept
Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Mining, In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Skybeam
In-Space Manufacturing
.jpg "Space Applications Services"){kind=logo}
Development
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Production, In-Space Manufacturing
Active
Space-CU
In-Space Manufacturing, ISS Utilization Service, Space-Flown
Demonstrated
In-Space Manufacturing
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Development
ForgeStar, Aether
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), In-Space Manufacturing
Development, Launched
In-Space Manufacturing, Robotic Arm
Development
OT-S, Optimus-1
Space Tug, In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Logistics, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), In-Space Mobility, Active Debris Removal (ADR), In-Space Assembly, Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
Development, Launched
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
Vertical Adaptive Greenhouses Farm (VAGF)
In-Space Manufacturing, Hardware
Development
Space Naem, Clinostat, 3D Space Food Printer
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
Orbital Logistics Vehicle (OLV), m-OLV
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Lunar Electric Grid, Power Beaming
Development
Space Resources, Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Mining, In-Space Manufacturing
Early stage
Software, Hardware, In-Space Manufacturing
Development
In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Robotic Space Station, Microgravity Research Payloads, In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Starlab Oasis
In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Space Whiskey
In-Space Manufacturing
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing
Demonstrated
Refabricator, SpiderFab, LEO Knight
In-Space Manufacturing, On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Assembly, In-Space Communications Relay, Robotic Arm
Cancelled, Launched, Acquired
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly
Development
POP3D
In-Space Manufacturing, Hardware, Commercial Space Station
Demonstrated
In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Concept
Nyx
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander
Development, Launched
Worker Bee, Sutter Space Telescope
Space Tug, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Resources - Asteroid Mining, Propellant Refuel Station, Space Mining, In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Propellant Refilling, Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Equipment
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing
Cancelled
In-Space Manufacturing
Development, Launched
In-Space Manufacturing
Early stage
Luna-Crete, Constellation Vault
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company, Space Construction Equipment, Commercial Rover, Space Mining
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Demonstrated, Development
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production
Cancelled
SAFER (Satellite After Fully Enclosed Recycler)
In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing, Hardware, Space Laboratory Equipment
Demonstrated
In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
Space Oven
In-Space Manufacturing
Launched, Demonstrated
BAM-FX
In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Dormant, Development