Biofilms

On the last day of August Thomas retrieved 24 experiment containers from the Station’s research refrigerators and installed them in ESA’s Kubik incubator-centrifuge. Inside the containers are a mix of bacteria growing on different surfaces. The A. radioresistens bacteria and the S. capitis bacteria will grow on brass, copper and steel and the C. metallidurans bacteria on steel and copper.

The goal of this experiment is to see if any metals have natural anti-bacterial properties in space, but some samples will be spun to recreate gravity levels on Mars and Earth. After their flight, the bacteria biofilms as well as the surfaces they grew on will be subjected to an in-depth analysis comprising various microbiological, genetic, molecular biological, chemical and materials-science investigations. The results will help mission designers build spacecraft and outposts that are healthier and require less cleaning.