Indian-born scientist creates 3D-printed pizza for long-mission astronauts
27 Jan 2014
An Indian-origin engineer working for the Texas-based Systems & Materials Research Corp has claimed to have developed a 3D printer that can print food and pizza for astronauts on long missions.
Anjan Contractor had obtained a $125,000 grant from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) last year to build a prototype 3D printer designed to provide astronauts a nutritious and comforting alternative to the canned and freeze-dried pre-packaged foods they currently use.
His goal was to print a pizza with his 3D printer; and according to a posting on his YouTube page, he has succeeded. The printer would be able to lay out all the starches, proteins, fats, texture, and structure, spraying on flavour, smell, and micro-nutrients at the end.
In his YouTube page, Contractor said that it took about 70 seconds to cook the pizza after the 3D printer finished doing its thing. Late last year, he had arranged a video demonstration of the process.
Contractor had promised last spring that the cartridges the printer uses would be able to last for 30 years.
Systems & Materials Research Corp will showcase its 3D Printed Food technology