Study of microbial Communities Exposed to Weightlessness (Sample)
Research Area: Microbiology
Expedition(s): 8, 9, 12 and 14
Principal Investigator(s): • Hermie Harmsen, PhD, University of Gronigen,
Groningen, Netherlands
- Gjalt Welling, PhD, University of Gronigen,
Groningen, Netherlands - Janneke Krooneman, PhD, Bioclear Environmental
Biotechnology, Groningen, Netherlands
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The primary scientific objectives of the Study of microbial Communities Exposed to
Weightlessness (Sample) experiment are to evaluate which microbial species might benefit
from growth conditions in life support systems and to investigate the mechanisms of microbial
adaptation to weightlessness. The focus is on
potentially pathogenic and destructive microbes,
looking at the origin and distribution of species on
different sample sites and looking at the changes of
normal micro-biota of space explorers and the
relation with the micro-biota in the International
Space Station (ISS) during spaceflight.
EARTH BENEFITS
Sample will generate knowledge and tools to
investigate hygienic conditions in hospitals. Sample
techniques are currently being used to analyze the
spread of microbes in intensive care units (ICUs) with
special attention to methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
SPACE BENEFITS
Based on Sample results, a machine may be designed that can monitor microbial growth in
space without sending samples to Earth. Developers of future habitability procedures can use
the knowledge gained from this experiment to better protect crew health on long-duration
missions
RESULTS
Two problems occurred that would affect the results of the experiment. The culture swabs
taken were not stored in tubes with storage medium to enable survival, and the culture swabs,
body samples, and the specimen case were transported from the landing site in a cool box with
a temperature that dropped below 0°C, which would damage the living bacteria present in the
samples.
ESA Astronauts, Andre Kuipers (right) and
Gerhard Thiele (left) in training for the Study of
microbial Communities Exposed to
Weightlessness at Star City, Russia. Photo
courtesy of Hermie Harmsen, Ph.D.,University of