Surface Decontamination and Biofilm Eradication using Focused Microwave Energy

This project supports the critical need for an effective, light weight, portable, multiuse system that can disinfect: 1) surfaces; 2) astronaut clothing; 3) EVA suit undergarment cooling systems and; 4) water systems and components without the need for resupply (i.e., disinfectants/reagents, clean clothes/undergarments, components and spare parts - preventative maintenance). Astronaut hygiene including surface decontamination and dirty laundry (i.e., exercise clothes, towels) is a concern due to potential increased virulence of microbes and up mass restrictions. Bacteria accumulates in astronaut exercise clothes causing limited usage and bad odors. Exercise clothes are currently discarded on ISS after approximately two to three weeks resuting in significant costs to NASA due to up mass. Nonchemical and non/low water consuming alternatives are needed on ISS to solve these problems and reduce astronaut exposure to harmful chemicals. In addition, biofilms are particularly difficult to eradicate due to their enhanced resistance and may be potentially even more in microgravity. Sterilizing surfaces using microwave energy will eradicate microbes, thereby preventing the spread of infection (preventive medicine), damage to equipment due to microbial growth, and enhance function of water systems by reducing/eliminating microbial contaminants and biofilms. A prototype device could be built and flight certified for validation on ISS in preparation for final implementation on a future asteriod or Mars mission.

This project supports the critical need for an effective, light weight, portable, multiuse system that can disinfect: 1) surfaces; 2) astronaut clothing; 3) EVA suit undergarment cooling systems; and 4) water systems and components without the need for resupply of water and disinfectants/reagents. Surface decontamination is a critical issue for future space exploration (i.e., next generation spacecraft, habitats) due to potential increased virulence of microbes in microgravity and up mass restrictions. Bacteria also accumulates in astronaut exercise clothes causing limited usage and bad odors. Exercise clothes are currently discarded on ISS after approximately two to three weeks resuting in significant costs to NASA due to up mass. Nonchemical and non/low water consuming alternatives are needed to solve these problems while reducing astronaut exposure to harmful chemicals within the confined space environment. Future exploration missions will not have access to resupplies (clean clothes, towels, disinfectants) and will have to make use of available onboard resoures for extended periods of time. In addition, biofilms are particularly difficult to eradicate due to their enhanced resistance and may be potentially even more in microgravity. Sterilizing surfaces using microwave energy will eradicate microbes, thereby preventing the spread of infection (preventive medicine), damage to equipment due to microbial growth, and enhance function of water systems by reducing/eliminating microbial contaminants and biofilms. A prototype device could be built and flight certified for validation on ISS in preparation for final development, integration and implementation for future exploration missions.

This project supports the critical need for an effective, light weight, portable multiuse system that can disinfect: 1) surfaces; 2) astronaut clothing; 3) undergarment cooling systems; and 4) water systems and components without the need for resupply of water and disinfectants/reagents. Decontamination is a critical issue for future and commercial space exploration (i.e., next generation commercial spacecraft, habitats) due to potential increased virulence of microbes in microgravity and up mass restrictions. Exercise clothes are currently discarded after approximately two to three weeks on ISS resuting in significant costs to NASA due to up mass. Nonchemical and non/low water consuming alternatives are needed to solve these problems while reducing exposure to harmful chemicals within the space environment. In addition, biofilms are particularly difficult to eradicate due to their significantly enhanced resistance and may be potentially even more in microgravity. Sterilizing surfaces using microwave energy will eradicate microbes, thereby preventing the spread of infection (preventive medicine), damage to equipment from microbial growth, and enhance function of water systems by reducing/eliminating microbial contaminants and biofilms. This device could be built and flight certified for commercial use for next generation spacecraft and habitats once the prototype is validated on ISS. The commercial space industry could benefit and use this technology as well as NASA.