“To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.” Homer Simpson’s comedic toast at the end of “Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment” was a perfect button to a nearly perfect episode of The Simpsons, but it turns out it’s also a driving factor in the colonization of Mars. By now, it’s no small secret that Elon Musk wants mankind to build a civilization on the red planet as early as 2022, but he wants to make sure you’re able to crack open a cold one with the boys while you’re there. If Budweiser and SpaceX have their way, you could be gripping and sipping on some ice cold beer as early as 2024. That’s shorter than the wait to get a drink at most bars in Los Angeles!
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Budweiser wants to win the only case race that matters: to become the first beer in space. And they’re making good on that declaration by sending barley into space as part of a supply mission to the International Space Station. The barley will remain on board the ISS for approximately a month before returning to our pale blue dot where it will be analyzed by Budweiser’s scientists, who are seeking answers on how zero gravity affects plant growth and would impact eventual beer production outside of Earth’s atmosphere. To get their barley to space, they partnered with SpaceX and transported the seedlings on a cargo supply mission that launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on December 4.
It’s important to note that Budweiser won’t be the first booze in space period, though. In 2011, Scottish whisky distiller Ardberg sent some of their finest swill to the ISS, and when it returned to Earth they discovered that its time in orbit altered the ratios and chemical composition in the whisky, causing it to have an aftertaste of “antiseptic lozenges” and “rubbery smoke.” Hopefully by testing the effects of zero gravity on beer’s core ingredients before it’s turned into a sweet brewdog will help prevent you from making a face like Kuato in Total Recall after you sip on a tall glass of Bud Mars.
But that’s not all on today’s episode of Muskwatch! Your intrepid hosts Kyle Hill and Dan Casey will be delving into a wild Bitcoin theory, Elon Musk’s fears about the dangers of AI development, and much more!
Muskwatch airs on Nerdist.com and YouTube every Tuesday, but you can hack the planet and watch it two full days earlier on Sunday if you’re an Alpha subscriber. Find out how you can get 30 days free (and be 48 hours smarter than your dumb friends) right here.
What do you think of this week’s top stories? What else would you like to see us discuss on Muskwatch? Let us know in the comments below!
WHAT ELSE IS ELON MUSK UP TO?
- SpaceX and Uber are teaming up to make flying cars
- This human-controlled robot is like IRL Pacific Rim
- SpaceX wants to make a helpful version of Skynet
