The term comfort food refers to a food that evokes a sense of well-being in people, often linked to childhood memories and home cooking. According to current studies, comfort foods are associated with an emotional comfort experience and there is growing interest in their use for therapeutic purposes, including in Space.

Space agencies have been exploring this topic, especially in view of future missions to Mars, where comfort food is considered a key element to mitigate stress due to the duration and difficulties of the mission. Among the most popular comfort foods is ice cream, which, besides being a food that could potentially be produced on site without the use of electricity, could play a significant role in improving the mood and psychological well-being of the crew.

Imagining astronauts as pioneers of a new world, Archaic is a tool designed to meet the specific needs of the lunar and Martian environment. It is designed to make the most of the ingredients, materials and limited resources available during the first missions. The result is an essential ice cream maker, 80% of which can be made directly on lunar soil by 3D printers using regolith. It requires no electricity and allows for customised food preparation. The Archaic ice cream maker consists of an aluminium container lined with a cooling layer filled with 3M® liquid, an insulating outer shell made of regolith, and a spatula-pestle for processing the fruit and whisking the mixture.

Archaic’s ultimate goal is to demonstrate that scarcity of resources and numerous limitations do not prevent Space Design from creating a positive experience, capable of bringing both physical and psychological benefits to astronauts.