Exploration on a microbial scale in space
2016-07-25
The Water and Food Analytics Laboratory within the Human Health and Performance Directorate at Johnson Space Center can test for hundreds of bacteria and chemicals in samples returned from the International Space Station; but, until now, there has been no way to quantify and identify bacteria species while in orbit.
The new Microbial Monitoring System (MMS) gives astronauts the capability to test for a known bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) using custom reagents created by Kennedy Space Center (KSC) scientists along with a commercial off-the-shelf detection instrument.
The bacteria P. aeruginosa is an environmentally and medically significant organism, and some strains of this organism can form biofilm—meaning under the right conditions, it could affect the station’s system performance or make a crew member sick.
The primary objective of the MMS is to demonstrate that the detection technology works in-flight using known ground samples sent up with the kit. Only a week ago, July 18, the MMS piggybacked to the space station on a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule.
Once the MMS has successfully demonstrated that it can work in microgravity, engineers, scientists and health professionals can expand the technology by looking for other microbes that could impact the health of the crew or station systems.
Another benefit? MMS will reduce the need to rely on ground-based laboratories for analysis—a critical requirement as humans explore farther from Earth.
“When you can’t bring the samples back [to Earth], you’re forced to think innovatively,” said Torin McCoy, Environmental Sciences Branch Chief within JSC’s Human Health and Performance Directorate. “This technology helps us prepare for exploration by letting us get real-time information, in flight, without having to wait for ground-based analysis of sample returns.”
The instrument was developed under co-principal investigators Christina Khodadad, KSC, and Cherie Oubre, JSC, as part of the 5x2015 initiative 1-E class. The 5x2015 initiative was created by JSC Director Dr. Ellen Ochoa to streamline processes and identify gaps in the development of flight projects.
Michelle Fraser-Page
NASA Johnson Space Center
The new Microbial Monitoring System (MMS) gives astronauts the capability to test for a known bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) using custom reagents created by Kennedy Space Center (KSC) scientists along with a commercial off-the-shelf detection instrument.
The bacteria P. aeruginosa is an environmentally and medically significant organism, and some strains of this organism can form biofilm—meaning under the right conditions, it could affect the station’s system performance or make a crew member sick.
The primary objective of the MMS is to demonstrate that the detection technology works in-flight using known ground samples sent up with the kit. Only a week ago, July 18, the MMS piggybacked to the space station on a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule.
Once the MMS has successfully demonstrated that it can work in microgravity, engineers, scientists and health professionals can expand the technology by looking for other microbes that could impact the health of the crew or station systems.
Another benefit? MMS will reduce the need to rely on ground-based laboratories for analysis—a critical requirement as humans explore farther from Earth.
“When you can’t bring the samples back [to Earth], you’re forced to think innovatively,” said Torin McCoy, Environmental Sciences Branch Chief within JSC’s Human Health and Performance Directorate. “This technology helps us prepare for exploration by letting us get real-time information, in flight, without having to wait for ground-based analysis of sample returns.”
The instrument was developed under co-principal investigators Christina Khodadad, KSC, and Cherie Oubre, JSC, as part of the 5x2015 initiative 1-E class. The 5x2015 initiative was created by JSC Director Dr. Ellen Ochoa to streamline processes and identify gaps in the development of flight projects.
Michelle Fraser-Page
NASA Johnson Space Center
The new Microbial Monitoring System gives astronauts the capability to test for a known bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) in space. Image Credit: NASA