Nasa has funded a project that aims to adapt 3D printers for space usage, among other things these 3D printers will act as a sort of space kitchen.
A company called Systems and Materials Research Consultancy is studying how to make nutritious food with a 3D printer.
This would not only increase efficiency, but also make it able to store rations for longer trips more easily.
“Long distance space travel requires 15-plus years of shelf life,” Contractor told Quartz. “The way we are working on it is, all the carbs, proteins and macro and micro nutrients are in powder form. We take moisture out, and in that form it will last maybe 30 years.”
Looks Like Star Trek Replicators Will Become Reality
This video features a prototype making the first ever 3D printed pizza.
In a separate project, NASA is planning to launch a 3D printer to the International Space Station to test space manufacturing technology for long-duration missions. That project stems from a partnership between the company Made in Space and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Called the 3D Printing Zero G Experiment, the test flight will send a Made in Space 3D printer to the space station in 2014 to demonstrate the feasibility of using the technology to construct spare parts and tools from raw materials on a deep-space mission
That project stems from a partnership