{"id":584815,"date":"2023-07-28T18:20:56","date_gmt":"2023-07-28T15:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/these-antimicrobial-spacesuits-could-solve-astronauts-laundry-woes\/"},"modified":"2023-07-28T18:20:56","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T15:20:56","slug":"these-antimicrobial-spacesuits-could-solve-astronauts-laundry-woes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/these-antimicrobial-spacesuits-could-solve-astronauts-laundry-woes\/","title":{"rendered":"#These antimicrobial spacesuits could solve astronauts\u2019 laundry woes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3e4ab98e866\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3e4ab98e866\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/these-antimicrobial-spacesuits-could-solve-astronauts-laundry-woes\/#Keeping_your_underwear_clean_in_space\" >Keeping your underwear clean, in space<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/these-antimicrobial-spacesuits-could-solve-astronauts-laundry-woes\/#Austrian_textile_startup_has_%E2%80%98unique_collection\" >Austrian textile startup has \u2018unique collection\u2019<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-main-content\">\n                            <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wardrobe malfunctions are never fun. When on Earth, they might be a nuisance or prove somewhat embarrassing. In space however, they could be a matter of life and death. Not to mention, how do you handle, uhm, laundry on the Moon?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The European Space Agency (ESA) says that the next generation of lunar explorers will be kitted with a wholly upgraded set of spacesuits. And textile tech has come quite a way since the iconic string of Apollo missions in the \u201860s and \u201870s.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other than having to stand up to an extra-terrestrial environment characterised by high vacuum, radiation, extreme temperatures, and space dust, spacesuits are also subject to good old fashioned germs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we gear up to send humans to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, ESA is conducting a project called PExTex to assess suitable materials for future spacesuit designs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keeping_your_underwear_clean_in_space\"><\/span>Keeping your underwear clean, in space<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"inarticle-wrapper latest channel-cta hs-embed-tnw\">\n<div id=\"hs-embed-tnw\" class=\"channel-cta-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"channel-cta-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/events.tnw\/hardfork-2018\/uploads\/visuals\/tnw-newsletter.png\"\/><\/div>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/events.tnw\/hardfork-2018\/uploads\/visuals\/tnw-newsletter.png\"\/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"channel-cta-input\">\n<p class=\"channel-cta-title\">The &lt;3 of EU tech<\/p>\n<p class=\"channel-cta-tagline\">The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol&#8217; founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It&#8217;s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is joined by the Austrian Space Forum (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OeWF), <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which is leading a sub-project called BACTeRMA, trying to find ways of limiting microbial growth in the inner lining of the material. (The abbreviation stands for Biocidal Advanced Coating <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology<\/a> for Reducing Microbial Activity.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThink about keeping your underwear clean; it\u2019s an easy enough job on a daily basis, thanks to detergent, washing machines and dryers,\u201d ESA materials and processes engineer Malgorzata Holynska <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.esa.int\/Enabling_Support\/Space_Engineering_Technology\/Keeping_your_underwear_clean_on_the_Moon\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">commented<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u201cBut in habitats on the Moon or beyond, washing spacesuit interiors on a consistent basis may well not be practical.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIn addition, spacesuits will most probably be shared between different astronauts, and stored for long periods between use, potentially in favourable conditions for microorganisms. Instead we needed to find alternative solutions to avoid microbial growth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1398705 js-lazy\" alt=\"Collection of bacteria\" width=\"1463\" height=\"379\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1463px) 100vw, 1463px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Bacteria.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Bacteria.jpg 1463w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Bacteria-280x73.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Bacteria-270x70.jpg 270w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Bacteria-540x140.jpg 540w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Bacteria-796x206.jpg 796w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fdeep-tech%2F2023%2F07%2F28%2Fantimicrobial-spacesuits-solution-astronaut-laundry-woes%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Bacteria can be vibrantly colourful. Credit: ESA\" data-title=\"Share Bacteria can be vibrantly colourful. Credit: ESA on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Bacteria can be vibrantly colourful. Credit: ESA on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>Bacteria can be vibrantly colourful. Credit: ESA<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1398705\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Bacteria.jpg\" alt=\"Collection of bacteria\" width=\"1463\" height=\"379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Bacteria.jpg 1463w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Bacteria-280x73.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Bacteria-270x70.jpg 270w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Bacteria-540x140.jpg 540w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Bacteria-796x206.jpg 796w\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The researchers had to forego traditional antimicrobial materials such as copper and silver as they are likely to tarnish over time, not to mention chafe. The team then turned to what are called \u201csecondary metabolites.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are organic compounds produced by plants, fungi, and microorganisms, but they are not directly involved in basic cellular processes required for growth, development, and reproduction. Their functions involve protection from pathogens and other organisms, which is what lends them their antibiotic qualities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Austrian_textile_startup_has_%E2%80%98unique_collection\"><\/span>Austrian textile startup has \u2018unique collection\u2019<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To work out the details on how to actually get these materials onto fabric, the OeWF has enlisted the Vienna Textile Lab. <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">App<\/a>arently, the Austrian startup, which focuses on developing organic colours for textiles using microbes, is in possession of a unique \u201cbacteriographic\u201d collection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1398704 js-lazy\" alt=\"Violacein pigment produced by bacteria. \" width=\"1640\" height=\"1496\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1640px) 100vw, 1640px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria.jpg 1640w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria-230x210.jpg 230w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria-148x135.jpg 148w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria-296x270.jpg 296w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria-1536x1401.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria-796x726.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria-1592x1452.jpg 1592w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fdeep-tech%2F2023%2F07%2F28%2Fantimicrobial-spacesuits-solution-astronaut-laundry-woes%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Violacein pigment produced by bacteria. Credit: ESA\" data-title=\"Share Violacein pigment produced by bacteria. Credit: ESA on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Violacein pigment produced by bacteria. Credit: ESA on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>Violacein pigment produced by bacteria. Credit: ESA<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1398704\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria.jpg\" alt=\"Violacein pigment produced by bacteria. \" width=\"1640\" height=\"1496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria.jpg 1640w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria-230x210.jpg 230w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria-148x135.jpg 148w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria-296x270.jpg 296w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria-1536x1401.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria-796x726.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/Violacein_pigment_produced_by_bacteria-1592x1452.jpg 1592w\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The two have collaborated on various \u201cbiocidal textile processing techniques,\u201d such as dying cloth with the metabolites and then exposing them to both human perspiration and all other kinds of stressors they will encounter in space.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These newly developed fabrics are currently being integrated into a spacesuit simulator, and are scheduled to undergo field testing in March 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where humans go, bacteria will follow. Many of these microorganisms are literally vital to life on Earth. They may also become essential in everything from <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/newscenter.lbl.gov\/2022\/06\/30\/bacteria-for-blastoff\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">producing rocket fuel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to manufacturing food on longer space missions to Mars. However, as anyone who has ever suffered from food poisoning can attest, they can also be downright nasty little buggers. What\u2019s more, there is evidence some species can <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/science-nature\/scientists-discover-exposed-bacteria-can-survive-space-years-180975660\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">survive in the harsh environment of space<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping harmful bacteria at bay is crucial to a successful space mission. NASA <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/research\/news\/microbiology-101-space-station-microbes-research-iss\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">says<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it \u201cputs a lot of effort\u201d into knowing which microbes might hitch a ride on the spaceships heading out to orbit, and continuously monitors what\u2019s going on with bacteria on the International Space Station (ISS). Some teeny-tiny astronauts are even brought along on purpose, for space microbiology research.<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/antimicrobial-spacesuits-solution-astronaut-laundry-woes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wardrobe malfunctions are never fun. When on Earth, they might be a nuisance or prove somewhat embarrassing. In space however, they could be a matter of life and death. Not to mention, how do you handle, uhm, laundry on the Moon? The European Space Agency (ESA) says that the next generation of lunar explorers will&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":584816,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/tnw-blurple?filter_last=1&fit=1280,640&url=https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2023\/07\/PExTex_spacesuit_concept.jpg&signature=d831255f55046349a9cf0a47adfc1a98","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-584815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/584815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=584815"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/584815\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/584816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=584815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=584815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=584815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}