3 consortium k1 is 0.2 [3], and the extraction efficiency of carbon material from Bennu k2 is 0.008 [6]. The estimated mass of edible biomass offered by Bennu is: Given that every 100 grams of edible biomass contains a total of 442 Calories, the estimated total Calories offered by Bennu is: A NASA’s standard diet provides 2,500 Calories for one astronaut per day. How many years can Bennu support the need of one astronaut? So, the result is around 17,447 years for one astronaut (or 17,447 astronauts for one year). We’re talking about an asteroid with a volume of around 62.3 million cubic meters — equivalent to about 25,000 Olympic-size swimming pools [7, 8]. To sustain just one astronaut, the daily volume of material required would be roughly the size of a quarter of a 19-seater minibus in Hong Kong [9]. A Long Way to Go A sheer volume of asteroid material would need to be processed daily to sustain even a single astronaut. By Sam Fan 樊潤璋 Astronauts? 人的食物來源嗎？ Handling such a volume in space, where every kilogram of equipment and material must be carefully managed, presents enormous logistical hurdles. For a whole crew of astronauts, demanding storage and processing capacities are almost unfeasible with current technology. So to this day, even if asteroidbased food production is an exciting concept, it is still in its infancy. Future advancements must focus on improving the efficiency of extraction and conversion processes, reducing the asteroid material required, and developing compact, energy-efficient systems that can operate in the unique environment of space [2]. The food will also need to undergo toxicology analysis, animal studies and finally human trials to ensure safety [2]. Only then can this vision become a practical solution for long-term space exploration. A Whole New Horizon While the technology is still theoretical and faces significant challenges, its potential to revolutionize space travel is undeniable. This approach could reduce reliance on Earth’s resources, enabling longer missions to explore the cosmos. Though far from reality, the idea reminds us of humanity’s ingenuity and determination to adapt and thrive, even in the vast, inhospitable reaches of space. Mass of edible biomass ÷ 100 × 442 = 3.602 × 109 ÷ 100 × 442 = 1.592 × 1010 Calories Calories offered by Bennu ÷ 2,500 ÷ 365 = 1.592 × 1010 ÷ 2,500 ÷ 365 = 17,447 years Mass of IOM in Bennu × e × k1 × k2 = 7.036 x 1012 × 0.32 × 0.2 × 0.008 = 3.602 × 109g
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