As the global space race reaches new heights, the question of sustainable food sources for astronauts becomes increasingly pressing. A student research team from Carleton University, Team Insecta, has an innovative solution: crickets. They will soon test the feasibility of their idea in the Canadian Reduced Gravity Experiment (CAN-RGX).

Crickets: The Mini Livestock of the Future

The challenges of providing nutritious, easy-to-grow food in a zero-gravity environment are significant. Crickets, however, have low-resource requirements and a high protein-to-weight ratio, making them an attractive alternative to traditional livestock. « Crickets’ low-resource requirements make them excellent candidates for spacefaring, » explains Hunter Brzezinski, a fourth-year student on Team Insecta, in an article published by Carleton University.

Overcoming the « Ick » Factor

Some might hesitate to incorporate insects into their diets due to cultural or personal preferences. However, the benefits of crickets as a sustainable food source are undeniable. « That’s what makes insects as a mini livestock a lot more attractive, » says Sophie Kasdorf, a PhD candidate and Insecta team member, in the same Carleton University article.

All Aboard the Cricket Spaceship!

On board the NRC Falcon 20, which simulates microgravity conditions, Team Insecta will experience micro-gravity and hyper-gravity conditions during a two-hour flight campaign. The only biology team in the CAN-RGX competition, they will have 160 cricket co-pilots secured in a temperature-regulated case. « It will feel like we’re in an orbiting spacecraft, » describes Brzezinski. Cassandra Stabile, another team member, adds that the simulation « will mimic what spaceflight is like in different scenarios, allowing us to run a number of experiments. »

Crickets’ Post-Flight Report

In the months following the flight, the team will observe and measure the crickets’ immune response, viral loads, and performance traits. They will also assess gene expression and phenotypic effects of crickets after spaceflight, providing valuable insights into how microgravity affects their growth and development. The results of Team Insecta’s CAN-RGX experiment could not only change the landscape of space exploration and habitation but also inform research on sustainable food sources. Perhaps one day, crickets will be the key to a thriving, eco-friendly human presence in the cosmos.