The study of the behavior of microorganisms in zero gravity has gained prominence with space agencies embarking upon long-term missions to the Moon and Mars. Among the organisms studied in this context, is Pseudomonas aeruginosa , which is the name of the bacteria that causes hospital-acquired and urinary tract infections in humans. An experiment using this bacterium was funded by NASA in 2010–2011, carried out by a research team from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where samples were sent into space aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis. The results, as well as subsequent studies done in recent years, have been instrumental in giving information about how biofilm-forming bacteria adapt to spaceflight conditions. It continues to shape how NASA approaches spacecraft design, water-recovery systems, and astronaut health protocols as human spaceflight moves toward more ambitious and extended missions.
The experiment
