Space Biofilms 1

jsc2020e003405 (10/30/2019) --- A preflight view of BioServe’s Fluid Processing Apparatus (FPA) in a three-chamber configuration. From bottom to top: sterile growth medium and 1 cm2 material coupon, bacteria in stasis (inoculum), and fixative for controlled experiment termination. FPAs were used to house the bacterial component of this experiment, where six different materials were tested. The Characterization of Biofilm Formation, Growth, and Gene Expression on Different Materials and Environmental Conditions in Microgravity (Space Biofilms) investigation characterizes the mass, thickness, structure, and associated gene expression of biofilms that form in space by analyzing different microbial species grown on different materials. Biofilm formation can cause equipment malfunction and human illnesses, and could be a serious problem on future long-term human space missions.