Demonstration of Food Processing Equipment

The primary objective of the proposed flight experiments is to determine the effect of reduced gravity in the transport of airborne particles generated in food preparation activities, and more specifically on spatter of oil and water droplets, within the environmental constraints of the fume hood component of a galley architecture in a space habitat. Experiments will be performed with two shelf-stable foods, consistent with what may be found in a space habitat.
SBIR Phase I (2010)
SBIR Phase II (2011)

The data collected during the flight campaign will help us to better understand the impact of gravity on the transport of airborne particles generated in food preparation activities such as spattering of cooking oil. It will benefit future NASA missions involving space habitats. Future Customers The resulting system and knowledge obtained will be applicable to any human missions that include a space habitat. For instance, the current approach towards enabling human exploration of space seeks to use the Moon as a proving ground for habitats and other technologies that enable long duration stays, as required in a manned mission to Mars. In addition to NASA applications, the containment and treatment of cooking fumes will find application in confined environments, e.g. submarine galley.

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