Inside the mission to brew sake in space

When astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) took delivery of the Japanese space agency’s latest resupply module, there were some interesting items in the inventory: the kit and ingredients to make sake.

The skill and knowledge needed to create this unique alcoholic beverage have been passed down through generations in Japan. Now, a project from sake brewing company Dassai and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has launched the drink into the future by brewing it in space for the first time.

Using purpose-built space brewing equipment developed by Dassai and MHI, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui conducted the experiment in the Japanese experimental module "Kibo." In an environment mimicking lunar gravity, he used the raw materials to make sake and successfully carried out alcoholic fermentation — the first time in history this has been done under such conditions.

Following fermentation, the resulting sake mash was returned to Earth, where it was refined into 116ml of sake by Dassai. Of this, 100ml was packaged and released for sale for JPY 110 million (about $724,000), with the proceeds going to Japan’s future space initiatives. The rest will be analyzed to inform future Japanese space industry development.

Find out more about this first-of-its-kind project in this video:

Deep expertise in space technology

The ultimate goal for the project is to one day brew sake on the moon. The mission is just one example of how, together, MHI and JAXA are pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

For half a century, MHI has played a significant role in developing space systems for Japan’s space industry. Today, from design and manufacturing to the launches themselves, MHI’s expertise and experience continue to help give Japan a competitive edge in the global space exploration market.

This includes building a system and pressurization module for JAXA’s next-generation HTV-X Cargo Transfer Spacecraft, and jointly developing the H3 Launch Vehicle — the rocket that sent the latest ISS resupply mission into space.

Whether carrying the ingredients to make sake or medical research equipment utilized on the ISS to advance our understanding of human health, this technology continues to push the boundaries of space exploration.