Thai aerospace technicians have entered the second phase of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) competition by proposing Thai food wisdom — by means of the sago earthworm — to feed future astronauts throughout long-duration space voyages, according to the Public Relations Department.
The particular sago worm is the larva of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, that is found in sago hand trunk. It is a staple food in the southern part of Thailand.
Thailand is represented in the competitors by the Keeta group, a cooperation associated with aerospace engineers from Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Chulalongkorn University, Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat College, and other private field bodies.
As one of the 10 top-scoring teams worldwide, the particular team were the only real Asian representatives asked to participate in phase 2 of the “Deep Space Challenge”, an international competition organised by Nasa in partnership with the particular Canadian Space Management (CSA) and the Methuselah Foundation.
The organisers are looking for novel and game-changing food technologies or systems that require minimum resources, produce minimal waste, and increase safe, nutritious, and portable food output for long-duration room missions.
The sago worm can create a reliable food production system for any long-term mission as high as three years without any resupply from Earth. The particular worm is rich in protein and fat and is ideal for human consumption. They can also be raised in an surrounded environment and are easy to harvest and maintain more than long periods.
The Keeta team is currently endeavouring to go into the next stage of the competition and you will be ready for an examination by the Nasa group early next year.