← Back to NASA Technology Projects

Deep Space Food Challenge - Phase 3 (DSFC)

Completed TRL 4 (started at 3, targeting 4)

Description

Generate novel food production technologies or systems that require minimal resources and produce minimal waste, while providing safe, nutritious, and tasty food for long-duration human exploration missions. Winning Teams from Phase 2 will scale their food production technology prototype to support an 8-week, multi-cycle demonstration in a simulated analog scenario.

Benefits

Provides the agency with innovative and sustainable food systems for long duration space travel. Positions NASA as a thought leader and innovative agency that strives to stimulate new technology development and demonstration for the agency and the Nation.

Details

Technology areaHuman Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems > Human Health and Performance > Food Production, Processing, and Preservation
ProgramPrizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing (PCC)
Lead organizationMarshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL
Start date2023-09-15
End date2024-08-16

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.