Start-up sends astronauts on International Space Station wine they can’t drink

Bits of a Lamborghini and a biscuit oven have docked with the International Space Station, along with one “gift” the astronauts can’t touch.

Researchers with Space Cargo Unlimited prepare bottles of French red wine to be flown to the International Space Station. The wine will age for a year up there before returning to the Luxembourg company. Company officials say researchers will study how weightlessness and space radiation affect the ageing process. (Space Cargo Unlimited via AP)

When bringing wine to a dinner party, it’s good etiquette that you leave it behind for your host when you leave, even if it doesn’t get cracked open that night.

So imagine how offended the six men and women on the International Space Station (ISS)be feeling right now.

This week, a dozen bottles of Bordeaux wine arrived at the ISS on board the Northrop Grumman capsule that was shot into space from Virginia on the east coast of the United States.

The bottles, individually contained in a metal canister to prevent breakages, were sent into space by a “start-up” (who else) called Space Cargo Unlimited.

The wine was put in protective canisters. Picture: Space Cargo Unlimited via AP

The start-up, based in Luxembourg (for what appear to be tax reasons), is investigating how the wine ages in space and have sent it to the ISS so it can sit there until it’s time for it to be sent back to Earth.

Researchers plan to study how space radiation and a lack of gravity affect how the wine ages and what impacts it has on the yeast and bacteria used in wine.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure,” chief executive and co-founder of Space Cargo Unlimited Nicolas Guame said, despite the start-up having another five missions planned over the next three years to explore how agricultural pursuits could be conducted in space.

But it wasn’t just wine on board the Cygnus capsule that docked with the ISS on Monday.

NASA has plans to send more commercial products to the ISS on the lookout for business opportunities in space, and to prepare for private astronaut missions.

The capsule arrives at the ISS. Picture: HO / NASA / AFP

Last year, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine announced a committee would investigate how NASA could work with advertisers to offset the costs of NASA missions.

Brands appear to be keenly interested, probably due to articles like this one talking about them when they send their products into space for “scientific” reasons that have nothing at all to do with branding.

Adidas recently announced a multi-year partnership with the ISS to “explore the boundaries of product innovation, human performance and sustainability”.

Also on the capsule were an oven for baking choc-chip biscuits and samples of carbon fibre used by Lamborghini.

It’s set to remain on the ISS for 70 days. Picture: HO / NASA / AFP

Famed American beer Budweiser has previously sent barley seeds into space, presumably looking to have more success in space than they have so far in the Australian market.

Japanese brewer Suntory previously sent whiskey into space as well.

But it’s not the first time a bottle of vino has exited the atmosphere.

In a total French move, the second French citizen in space, Patrick Baudry, took a bottle of wine on-board the Discovery shuttle in 1985, but the cork reportedly stayed in the whole time.

– with wires