Astronauts could eat asteroids for food? Scientists propose radical space meal

Scientists propose using asteroids as a food source for long-duration space missions. The process involves breaking down organic compounds in asteroids through pyrolysis, then using microbes to create edible biomass from the resulting hydrocarbons. Calculations suggest asteroids like Bennu could potentially produce 50 to 6,550 metric tons of edible biomass, enough to feed one astronaut for about 600 years. This approach could reduce reliance on Earth resupply missions, but requires further research to determine feasibility and efficiency.