A twelve-month sequence of workstreams, deliverables, and budgets. The order is deliberate.
| Phase | Timing | What I would do | Deliverables | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PH-01 Define the mission brief | Months 1–2 | Freeze the product brief, hazard philosophy, target consumer and target mission use case; choose validated couverture suppliers; sketch the hex score geometry; draft partner email packet | 1-page technical brief, supplier shortlist, CAD sketch, outreach list | $2,200 |
PH-02 Build the first edible prototypes | Months 2–3 | Produce three formulation families, hand-temper or seed-temper, mold score variants, run rough melt and break tests, start founder-content capture | 9–12 test batches, first sensory notes, failure log, first mockups | $2,750 |
PH-03 Lock the first package system | Months 3–5 | Buy chamber sealer, run pouch trials, compare 2–3 laminate structures, set seal/vacuum method, verify that broken crumbs stay contained | Version-1 pouch SOP, seal settings, package drawings | $5,400 |
PH-04 Run core validation | Months 5–8 | Outsource water activity, moisture, texture, and micro checks; start accelerated shelf-life study; run basic headspace oxygen and bloom tracking | Test dossier v1, pass/fail dashboard, shelf-life study in progress | $6,850 |
PH-05 Run analog sensory and handling studies | Months 7–9 | Conduct Earth panel plus simulated-space panel using head-down tilt or neutral-posture chair and VR spacecraft context; refine flavor intensity and break behavior | Sensory summary, selected final flavor, selected final score geometry | $3,900 |
PH-06 Build the public launch system | Months 9–11 | Finalize consumer SKU and premium founder pod, produce campaign media, write website copy, prep crowdfunding page | Campaign assets, website brief, deck, pilot inventory plan | $2,900 |
PH-07 Launch and learn | Months 11–12 | Run a small preorder/crowdfunding campaign, seed samples to analog crews, ex-astronauts, packaging and food-science press | First revenue, feedback loop, roadmap for v2 | $1,000 |
Freeze the product brief, hazard philosophy, target consumer and target mission use case; choose validated couverture suppliers; sketch the hex score geometry; draft partner email packet
1-page technical brief, supplier shortlist, CAD sketch, outreach list
Produce three formulation families, hand-temper or seed-temper, mold score variants, run rough melt and break tests, start founder-content capture
9–12 test batches, first sensory notes, failure log, first mockups
Buy chamber sealer, run pouch trials, compare 2–3 laminate structures, set seal/vacuum method, verify that broken crumbs stay contained
Version-1 pouch SOP, seal settings, package drawings
Outsource water activity, moisture, texture, and micro checks; start accelerated shelf-life study; run basic headspace oxygen and bloom tracking
Test dossier v1, pass/fail dashboard, shelf-life study in progress
Conduct Earth panel plus simulated-space panel using head-down tilt or neutral-posture chair and VR spacecraft context; refine flavor intensity and break behavior
Sensory summary, selected final flavor, selected final score geometry
Finalize consumer SKU and premium founder pod, produce campaign media, write website copy, prep crowdfunding page
Campaign assets, website brief, deck, pilot inventory plan
Run a small preorder/crowdfunding campaign, seed samples to analog crews, ex-astronauts, packaging and food-science press
First revenue, feedback loop, roadmap for v2
Shelf-life testing should begin only after recipe and packaging are effectively frozen, because both formulation and package changes can materially change shelf life. Colorado State’s current shelf-life guidance says exactly that, and also makes clear that different packaging types should be tested separately.