NASA has had an interest in 3D printing for quite a while,
and it is easy to see why. They can use
these printers in space to print off items that they need. This will allow them to bring fewer tools and
pieces of equipment with them, since they can decide exactly what they will
need for a given mission, and print it off.
It would even be possible to set up a 3D printer on the moon, and have
it print off a structure for astronauts to use for future missions.
Their latest goal, however, is to use 3D printing
technologies to print off food. This isn’t
some long term future goal either, they actually funded a project for this, and
it is a reality today. There is now a
prototype 3D printer that can print off an edible pizza!
The video below will show the 3D printer making the pizza,
which then needs to be baked for just 70 seconds before it is enjoyed. The contractor who made the printer claims that
the pizza tastes good, though I’m not so sure I believe it myself. Maybe tastes acceptable would be more
believable. I will say, however, that
the end product doesn’t look half bad.
The fact is, however, that as this technology is improved,
people in outer space, and anywhere on earth, will be able to print off a
variety of types of foods. The foods
will be contained in compact ‘cartridges’ so they will be easier to transport,
and have a much longer shelf life.
This is indeed taking us one step closer to the Star Trek
style food replicators that always seemed so futuristic. The technology is still in need of some
advancement, however, with this prototype being made, it will undoubtedly be
much easier to make improvements on it so pizzas can be printed faster, and
with better results.
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