The establishment of self-sustaining protein production systems is critical to overcoming the nutritional and logistical challenges of long-term human space exploration. Advances in synthetic biology have positioned microbial protein production as a promising solution, enabling rapid, resource-efficient protein synthesis in extreme environments. By engineering microorganisms, synthetic biology not only tailors nutritional protein but also unlocks unconventional feedstocks (such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) present in exoplanets), paving the way for sustainable, on-demand food systems for long-term missions and extraterrestrial colonies. This review synthesizes advances in engineering microbial systems for space applications, focusing on chassis resilience, pathway optimization, and system integration under the unique constraints of extraterrestrial environments. We further discuss prototype systems such as MELiSSA and BioNutrients, analyze associated environmental challenges, and outline future directions combining AI-assisted design with biosafety and planetary-protection considerations for responsible space biomanufacturing.
Cao et al. (2026) studied this question.