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AB InBev’s fourth space beer experiment scheduled for take off
Beer giant AB InBev is preparing to launch another batch of barley into space today on board aerospace company Space X’s Dragon shuttle.
Image: SpaceX
The owner of Budweiser has now launched four experiments into space, according to Space.com.
Plans for its space mission first came to the fore in 2017, with plans to create an automated malting procedure in microgravity.
AB InBev’s ultimate mission is to create the first microgravity brew that can be enjoyed on Mars.
In a statement released at the start of the project, the company said that the missions will not only “offer insights on steps to creating beer on the Red Planet, but they could also provide valuable information on the production of barley and the larger agricultural community here on earth”.
The malting barley seeds are transported to the International Space Station (ISS), where the malting process is started. The seeds are first soaked in water to increase their moisture content. The water is then moved, leaving the seeds exposed. Once they show signs of germination, the seeds are heated to dry them and to stop the germination process. The malt is then returned to earth and compared with control batches made on planet earth.
The SpaceX flight was scheduled to depart yesterday, however due to “upper altitude winds and high winds at sea” the flight has been postponed to later today.
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