First Meat Grown in Space
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have successfully grown meat in zero gravity, marking a historic milestone that could redefine food production on Earth—and beyond.
For the first time ever, astronauts have produced meat in space. On October 7, Israeli startup Aleph Farms announced that muscle tissue was successfully cultivated aboard the International Space Station (ISS), using living bovine cells and 3D bioprinting technology.
The breakthrough, achieved in collaboration with 3D Bioprinting Solutions, a Russian biotech firm, did not rely on farmland, water, or animal slaughter. Instead, astronauts assembled cow cells into a small, edible piece of muscle tissue—essentially, meat grown entirely in microgravity.
How It Worked: Printing a Steak in the Sky
The experiment took place on September 26, when cosmonauts aboard the ISS used a magnetic 3D bioprinter to fuse clusters of bovine cells, known as spheroids, into a compact structure resembling meat.
On Earth, gravity pulls cells downward during printing, requiring scaffolds or gels to hold them in shape. But in space, the cells floated freely, forming a 3D tissue sample “like making a snowball,” according to Yoav Reisler, external relations manager at Aleph Farms.
The result: a tiny, fully formed piece of muscle tissue.
Why It Matters: Sustainability in the Stars
This experiment isn’t just a space-age curiosity. It represents a possible solution to one of Earth’s biggest challenges—feeding a growing population.
By proving that meat can grow in extreme environments, Aleph Farms hopes to pave the way for sustainable protein production both in orbit and on Earth—where rising temperatures and shrinking resources threaten global food security.
What Comes Next: From Orbit to Dinner Plates
While the meat grown aboard the ISS won’t be hitting supermarket shelves anytime soon, the success signals a giant leap forward for cell-cultured food technology. Scientists are still analyzing the tissue to assess texture, nutrition, and scalability.
Aleph Farms partnered with 3D Bioprinting Solutions and two U.S.-based companies for this mission, emphasizing the international effort behind the discovery. The goal is clear: create meat that uses fewer resources, emits less carbon, and could one day feed both astronauts and Earth’s billions.
Source: https://indiandefencereview.com/first-ever-meat-grown-in-space-sustainable/