One of the things that astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) regularly do is clean the spacecraft to prevent contamination. Now, they are conducting experiments with an antimicrobial surface coating that was developed by researchers from Boeing and the University of Queensland.
The antimicrobial surface coating was designed to kill bacteria and coronavirus. At first, the coating was formulated to keep space stations clean and safe from interplanetary bacteria. But with the recent challenges of the worldwide pandemic, scientists modified the formula to kill coronavirus as well.
Astronauts regularly touch the objects in the antimicrobial surface coating to promote microbial growth. Human skin naturally has microbes.
Antimicrobial Surface In Space
PR Newswire reported that the joint research of Boeing and The University of Queensland was tested aboard the ISS this year, but it was first tested last year aboard the ecoDemonstrator of Boeing as part of their Confident Travel Initiative.
Mike Delaney, Boeing's chief aerospace safety officer said that the preliminary results of their experiments here on Earth have yielded encouraging results. Their testing still continues here on Earth and they found that there is a potential to use such technology on a large-scale for preventing disease transmission.
In a press release by Boeing, they said that the ISS experiment tests two identical sets of objects, one that acts as the experimental group while the other is the control.
These objects include an airplane seat buckle, fabric from airplane seats and seatbelts, and some parts of an armrest and tray table.
Since no microbe samples were sent to space, astronauts have to touch the objects every day to naturally transfer bacteria from their skin. The test objects are set to be sent back to Earth later this year for analysis at the labs of Boeing to measure the effectiveness of the surface coating in a microgravity environment.
Protecting Space Missions
For many decades, the ISS has been up in orbit and served as the go-to for scientists looking to explore innovations. It offers a microgravity environment suitable for many research that is impossible to conduct on Earth MailOnline reported.
'Some microbes change characteristics in microgravity, which could create new risks to crew health and spacecraft systems as well as creating the possibility of contaminating other planetary bodies,' NASA shared in a statement.
Professor Michael Monteiro from UQ's Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology said that the experiment's primary purpose was for the antimicrobial surface coating to protect space missions.
With the present pandemic striking the whole world, the scientists decided to modify the formula of the surface coating that can also target SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
"We look forward to continuing our testing regimen and working to gain regulatory approvals," Monteiro said.
According to Boeing, the antimicrobial surface coating in a spacecraft could help ensure the health of the crew and protect the systems inside the ISS. But ultimately, the goal is to prevent interplanetary microbial contamination from Earth-born or other planet's bacteria.
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