MOSCOW, Idaho – University of Idaho is collaborating with NASA’s International Space Station to test research meant to help astronauts stay healthy in space.
The research will be launched to the ISS during a live broadcast planned to be on August 24 at 2:45 a.m.
The research is led by University of Idaho College of Engineering chemical engineering graduate student Adrienne Shea and Professor Matthew Bernards. Together, they focused on developing a bacteria adhesion-resistant coating to use in space vehicles to protect astronauts from getting sick.
They created a nonfouling polymer to resist the adhesion of proteins and bacteria, according to a press release from University of Idaho.
Their research will be on the ISS for 30 days before returning to Earth. It will be housed in a proactive chamber built by Shae, which will have two stains of bacteria introduced into it to test how the coating works.
“We’re essentially replicating — in an enclosed, protected space — what an astronaut might come into contact with within their drinking water system,” Shea said, “Working on a project that’s headed to the ISS is an incredible opportunity, not just because it’s space-bound, but because the work we’re doing has real potential to improve human health.”
The plan for future research would include developing the coat for longer surfaces like drinking water piping.
“This research is crucial not only for protecting astronaut health during long-term space missions, but also for advancing water distribution systems here on Earth,” Bernards said. “By developing materials that resist bacteria and protein buildup, we’re helping create cleaner, safer environments.”
The polymers would also be useful for biomedical procedures like organ transplants or joint replacements.
