BioSTEP process diagram

Every kilogram launched into space comes at significant cost, and the further from home a crew travels, the less practical it becomes to rely on resupply missions from Earth. Finding ways to make the best use of the resources already on board will be essential to making deep space exploration viable. A recent ESA Discovery project brought together two Norwegian research institutions to explore a promising avenue: using plant waste and packaging materials to manufacture nanocellulose and biocomposites.