If Earthlings are ever going to colonise Mars, they received’t find a way to take action on an empty abdomen — and Temidayo Oniosun thinks a serving to of Egusi soup, a Nigerian staple, would possibly simply hit the spot.
House in Africa, the Lagos-based agency Oniosun based, is anticipating its Egusi melon seeds to splash down within the Pacific Ocean Saturday — contemporary from a visit to the Worldwide House Station.
As soon as Earthside, experiments will start on what’s being hailed as the primary meals native to west Africa to be despatched to area.
As Oniosun informed AFP on Friday, it might herald an period the place area exploration displays the planet’s range.
“After we speak about people colonising different planets, this isn’t simply an American mission or a European mission — it is a international mission,” he informed AFP.
And future African area explorers would possibly take pleasure in a style of house.
Experiments on extraterrestrial meals, which is to say examined in area, have been occurring for years.
Rising meals in area is seen as an important a part of long-distance area flight and long-term missions, the place frequent resupply received’t be possible.
– Worldwide exams –
Scientists on the College of Florida in the USA, and the Worldwide Institute of Tropical Agriculture, within the southwestern Nigerian metropolis of Ibadan, will look at the seeds “to see the results of publicity to area” and nil gravity, together with on the seeds’ DNA.
As soon as planted, researchers will monitor their post-space efficiency and germination.
The seeds went as much as the ISS on a SpaceX Flight final week, as a part of NASA’s partnership with non-public companies.
Oniosun stated the inclusion of Egusi seeds marked an essential step ahead, each for these on Earth in addition to future astronauts.
Excessive in protein, they’re sometimes used to arrange soups and stews throughout west and central Africa.
Africa’s most populous nation has a small area trade, however the launch of the seeds appeared to generate extra pleasure on social media and in newspapers than earlier launches of Nigerian satellites, he stated.
“The second that we’re sending meals that they love, a meals that holds important cultural contexts to Nigeria… everyone begins getting within the topic,” Oniosun informed AFP.
“The launch of Egusi melon seeds into area is greater than a symbolic gesture,” he added.
“The way forward for humanity among the many stars should replicate the range and richness of life on Earth.”
Whether or not pounded yam — the important thing dish served alongside Egusi soup — will make its technique to the ultimate frontier stays to be seen.
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