In science fiction movies, devices that serve meals at the push of a button often appear. But this device may become a reality in the near future.

NASA has donated $ 125,000 to Systems & Materials Research Corporation (SMRC) to support the development of 3D food printers. SMRC says it will use this money to build a prototype of a food printer. And this prototype will be able to "print" "pizza". The US media QUARTZ reports .

NASA supports the development of pizza printers (image is an image)
NASA supports the development of pizza printers (image is an image)

In the 3D food printer developed by SMRC, meals are "printed" using powder, oil, etc. enclosed in cartridges called "Nutrient Storage". It's not possible to print meals with complex shapes at this time, but it's relatively easy to handle flat, layered foods such as pizza.

Conceptual diagram of 3D food printer developed by SMRC
Conceptual diagram of 3D food printer developed by SMRC

When printing pizza with a 3D food printer, first print the "dough layer" using flour in the cartridge. Next, mix the tomato powder, water, and oil in the cartridge to make a tomato sauce, and print this on the "dough layer" as a "tomato sauce layer". Finally, the topping is printed on the tomato sauce layer, which SMRC calls the "protein layer". In the protein layer, you can choose various ingredients such as meat and vegetables according to your taste.

SMRC has developed a "chocolate printer" to prove that this concept works. The operation was recorded in a video and published on YouTube. On the chocolate printer, you can see how the "chocolate layer" is printed on the "dough layer" made of cookies.


チョコレートプリンターテスト動画

NASA says it is considering using the 3D food printer as a system to feed astronauts on long-term space travel, such as manned flight missions to Mars. SMRC's Anjan Contractor explains the matter:

"Long-distance space travel requires that food be storable for at least 15 years. Our system stores all carbohydrates, proteins, and other nutrients in powder form, so it can be storable for at least 30 years. It is. "

The system is certainly available, as rocket travel to Mars takes several months. When NASA conducts a manned flight to Mars, it may bring this 3D food printer to Mars.