What is the overarching purpose of investigating concentrated additives like microalgae for deep space missions?

Answer

To bridge nutritional gaps conventional space fare might miss over years away from Earth

The concentrated supplements like Spirulina and Sea Buckthorn are not intended to completely overhaul the existing menu or substitute every traditional meal component. Instead, their primary value lies in their ability to act as potent additives capable of delivering a high percentage of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for several critical nutrients within a minimal, inert package. This targeted delivery system helps bridge specific nutritional deficiencies or gaps that might accumulate over years of relying on less complex, bulkier conventional space fare, until scalable in-situ cultivation can provide fresh alternatives.

What is the overarching purpose of investigating concentrated additives like microalgae for deep space missions?
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