The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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3D printed food produced by the TNO research centre in the Netherlands, a member of the URBAN consortium investigating 3D printing in support of a lunar base. A food printer creates diversity in looks, tastes and textures from a limited set of ingredients. A wide range of food materials can be used for 3D food printing, including pasta, chocolate, fruit purees, vegetable purees, meat/fish purees, cheese, doughs, sugars, candy, proteins (animal and plant based), carbohydrates, oils and fats, minerals and vitamins. Some food ingredients could be grown locally, others brought from Earth. It would boost lunar base sustainability by recycling “waste” (CO2, water, faeces, etc.) to feed plants or microorganisms.