University Satellite Project to Send Whisky into Space for First Time

Whisky will be distilled in space for the first time in 2028 when engineers from Scotland and Japan launch a satellite containing Scotch samples and base ingredients on a five-year orbital mission. The experiment aims to measure how the harsh space environment affects the aging of the spirit.

Rocket Launch Planned for 2028

Engineers are planning to put Scotch on a SpaceX supply mission to the International Space Station in 2028. The payload will be deployed into orbit as a “cubesat” from the space station’s Japanese module. The project is nicknamed “Space Puffin.”

Students from Scotland have traveled to Japan to help co-design the cubesat. Dr. Gilles Bailet of the University of Glasgow told the Press Association that the research aims to test how extreme temperature shifts affect the liquid.

Extreme Temperatures to Speed Up Maturation

The cubesat will rotate the Earth every 90 minutes, exposing the whisky samples to temperatures fluctuating rapidly between minus 150 degrees and 200 degrees. Scientists hope these extreme thermal cycles will cause the wood containing the samples to breathe faster than it would on Earth, accelerating the maturation process.

Dr. Bailet noted that while the science of how whisky breathes in wooden casks is not fully understood, space conditions could produce interesting results. The cubesat will not carry a full cask, but rather small wood chips holding the liquid samples to mimic traditional barrel aging.

Sensors Monitor Whisky to Test Orbital Manufacturing

Sensors on the cubesat will monitor the whisky while it is in orbit, feeding data on its color and chemical composition back to scientists on the ground. The mission will also demonstrate how ethanol extraction works in orbit.

Researchers hope the project will provide insights into orbital factories capable of developing molecules for medications that are difficult to produce on Earth. Dr. Bailet stated that the team eventually wants to scale up the process to launch a full whisky-making system with a full cask and return a litre of space-matured Scotch to Earth within three to five years.

Common Questions About the Orbital Whisky Project

What will happen to the cubesat after five years?

The cubesat will not be recovered at the end of its five-year mission, though scientists are planning future projects that would land matured whisky back on Earth.

Which distilleries are providing the samples?

Specific distilleries in Scotland and Japan have not been chosen yet to contribute the whisky.

Who is funding the initial development?

The initial visit to Japan for the engineering team is the result of a grant from distillery-design consultancy Allen Associates.