A vegan microbial protein made from air and electricity, called Solein, is being tested for potential use in space missions to Mars and the Moon. Solar Foods, the Finnish company behind Solein, is partnering with European space technology company OHB-System AG and the European Space Agency for the project. The goal is to develop a version of Solein technology that can be used in space, starting with testing on the International Space Station.

Solein is created by extracting CO2 from the atmosphere and combining it with hydrogen, minerals, and vitamins using renewable energy. The protein has been approved for production and sale in Singapore, and Solar Foods is working towards obtaining Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status. This innovative protein could provide a safe, palatable, and nutritious plant-based protein option for future space missions, potentially reducing the high costs of sending traditional food into space.