boys from European Space Agency (ESA) They decided to answer one of the greatest mysteries in the history of space exploration: Is it possible to fry french fries in outer space?
It might seem like a dumb approach at first, but it’s an idea that could be great for anyone with a minimal knowledge of how the physics and chemistry of space combustion work.
Just a fun idea, almost silly, but the scientific challenges involved in being able to find a way to make it possible are the most exciting. So much so that one of the most important space agencies on the entire planet devoted itself to solving the mystery.
These kinds of unusual methods are no stranger to the European Space Agency, just remember how last year they also ran a project in which they sought to accurately calculate the date of the end of the world.
In the end, the end result of this projection was harmless, and most likely the condition we are dealing with today will also be harmless.
The European Space Agency and the secret of how to fry potatoes in space
Through its official website, the European Space Agency published All results for his latest research and experience. Where they were tasked with trying to find out how potatoes, or any food, could be fried in conditions of microgravity.
The challenge was necessary: cooking in space is something impossible to achieve in the first place as we know it on Earth. All because of the lack of gravity.
On our planet, that force and buoyancy make any frying pan work, because gravity allows bubbles to form on the surface and travel upwards to lift the oil and fry the food.
🍳 What better way to start your Sunday than with a fry-up?
But have you ever tried frying in a state of weightlessness?
While preparing for missions to #moon And to Mars, you’ll be glad to hear that one of our staple comfort foods, the potato, isn’t out of reach 🍟
🔗 https://t.co/h55cTMO36w pic.twitter.com/ukK4NWXTzT
– ESA (esa) June 4, 2023
So the scientists first analyzed every aspect of the potato-frying process, including everything that happens to the oil as the temperature rises.
Then they did two test runs at the European Space Agency’s flight facility to verify that it’s happily possible to fry in microgravity conditions.
Although this device, which simulates the conditions of our planet, is needed to a lesser extent.
The verification was at the most basic level to verify the behavior of the oil and its flight in the process of raising the temperature. But there is a long way to go.