Space station interiors are cleaned using specific antimicrobial wipes and ventilation systems.
the verdict
INSUFFICIENT LEANING
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
2 sources for · 0 against
Retrieved literature mentions spacecraft air filtration and cleaning procedures, but does not fully establish the use of specific antimicrobial wipes combined with ventilation systems as stated.
Viruses constitute a significant part of the human microbiome, so wherever humans go, viruses are brought with them, even on space missions. In this mini review, we focus on the International Space Station (ISS) as the only current human habitat in space that has a diverse range of viral genera that infect microorganisms from bacteria to eukaryotes. Thus, we have reviewed the literature on the physical conditions of space habitats that have an impact on both virus transmissibility and interaction with their host, which include UV radiation, ionizing radiation, humidity, and microgravity. Also, we briefly comment on the practices used on space missions that reduce virus spread, that is, use of antimicrobial surfaces, spacecraft sterilization practices, and air filtration. Finally, we turn our attention to the health threats that viruses pose to space travel. Overall, even though efforts are taken to ensure safe conditions during human space travel, for example, preflight quarantines of astronauts, we reflect on the potential risks humans might be exposed to and how those risks might be aggravated in extraterrestrial habitats.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. Viruses constitute a significant part of the human microbiome, so wherever humans go, viruses are brought with them, even on space missions. In this mini review, we focus on the International Space Station (ISS) as the only current human habitat in space that has a diverse range of viral genera that infect microorganisms from bacteria to eukaryotes.
Thus, we have reviewed the literature on the physical conditions of space habitats that have an impact on both virus transmissibility and interaction with their host, which include UV radiation, ionizing radiation, humidity, and microgravity. Also, we briefly comment on the practices used on space missions that reduce virus spread, that is, use of antimicrobial surfaces, spacecraft sterilization practices, and air filtration. Finally, we turn our attention to the health threats that viruses pose to space travel.
Due to the extreme conditions in space, astronauts are especially vulnerable to infections given that cosmic radiation, microgravity, and psychological stress tend to compromise the human immune system (Crucian et al., 2015 ; Fernandez-Gonzalo et al., 2017 ; Akiyama et al., 2020 ). Before departure to the International Space Station (ISS), crew members go through a 7-day isolation known as the “Health Stabilization Program” (NASA, 2010 ). Crucian and colleagues reported the occurrence of microbial diseases, cold sores, and allergies among 50% of the crew members in 38 six-month missions (Crucian et al., 2016a ).
Also, metagenomic studies on the seasonality of microbial distribution in bioaerosols suggest that humans in the enclosed environments strongly affect the airborne viral communities (Prussin et al., 2019 ). On a space station, however, the source of microbes is represented by the interchange of astronaut and microbe cross-contamination from humans to equipment and subsequently from equipment to humans. The low numbers of passengers make the ISS a microbiologically controlled environment.
They include a range of herpesviruses, which establish latency and can undergo reactivation (Pierson et al., 2005 ; Mehta et al., 2014 , 2017; Rooney et al., 2019 ; Voorhies et al., 2019 ). These authors' analysis results indicate that pathogenic viruses were present in low abundance and unlikely to cause significant health problems on short-term space missions, even under conditions unfavorable to a healthy immune system. However, their impact on long-term missions remains unknown. 3.
Including a minimum of 55% of copper into composite materials (Mehtar et al., 2008 ) would contribute to ensuring safety during air and space travel as it efficaciously inactivates most viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and other microbes (Noyce et al., 2007 ; Warnes et al., 2015 ; Schmidt et al., 2017 ; Bryant et al., 2021 ). There are also efforts to develop
A balanced diet that supports a healthy metabolism, boosting the immune response, like probiotics or foods rich in vitamins, minerals, or amino acids could in theory support the fitness of the immune system, though the research in this area is still ongoing (Perdigon et al., 1995 ; Mora et al., 2008 ; Crucian et al., 2018 ). Physical exercise has been found to significantly contribute to the reduced reactivation of viruses in astronauts on the ISS (Agha et al., 2020 ). A more drastic approach would consist of using immunostimulant drugs such as bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG), levamisole, isoprinosine, or others (Bascones-Martinez et al., 2014 ).
Anti-herpes products like acyclovir can be used to treat herpesviruses, but these have shown toxicity with prolonged use (WHO, 2013 ). Current journeys to space are limited in time, but in the case of longer journeys to Mars or further, latent viruses could have a greater impact. Currently, the standard safety procedure of human spaceflight is the preflight astronauts' quarantine and disinfection of cabins and equipment. However, we must consider the risk that some viral infections might go unnoticed during the quarantine period and cause significant harm once in the space station.
Developing new antimicrobial materials is another promising method for limiting viral spread during space travel. Since the plans of future space missions tend to be more prolonged, preflight isolation and a healthy immune system might not be enough to protect astronauts against some viruses due to the overwhelming conditions during space travel. Hence, developing new methods for the detection and treatment of viral infections in space is a relevant topic.
A challenge for the International Space Station (ISS) is accumulation of foreign object debris (FOD) in the ventilation systems and the impacts to crew, equipment, and experiments. One function of the temperature and humidity control system is to capture FOD with various methods of filtration to minimize these impacts. ISS filtration has been augmented by charcoal and High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and screens. A qualitative comparison of the quantity of FOD found since 2012 study and the current levels are evaluated. Impacts due to FOD are reduced air circulation, increased crew time for cleaning, reduction of equipment life, and component damage; examples are provided. Recommendations for further improvements to reduce the accumulation of FOD on ISS are provided.
53rd International Conference on Environmental Systems ICES-2024-85 21-25 July 2024, Louisville, Kentucky Evaluation of the Accumulation of Foreign Object Debris in the International Space Station Ventilation Systems and Resulting Impacts to Systems Cynthia L. Reuland1 NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas, 77058 Christopher A. Brown2 NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas, 77058 A challenge for the International Space Station (ISS) is accumulation of foreign object debris (FOD) in the ventilation systems and the impacts to crew, equipment, and experiments.
Nomenclature AAA = Avionics Air Assembly APM = Airborne Particulate Monitor BEAM = Bigelow Expandable Activity Module CCAA = Common Cabin Air Assembly CHIPS = Charcoal HEPA Integrated Particle Scrubbers COTS = commercial off-the-shelf CFM = cubic feet/ minute ECLS = Environmental Control and Life Support FOD = foreign object debris HEPA = High Efficiency Particulate Air IMV = Intermodule Ventilation ISS = International Space Station MCA = Major Constituent Analyzer OGS = Oxygen Generation System PAM = Private Astronaut Mission PMA = Pressurized Mating Adaptor PMM = Permanent Multipurpose Module RPCM = Remote Power Control Module THC = Temperature and Humidity Control USL = U.S.
Laboratory USOS = U.S On-Orbit Segment I. Introduction OD including particulates, dust, and debris are collected throughout ISS modules primarily in ventilation systems. In microgravity, FOD once liberated from a source floats in the cabin air being drawn by fans or air movement 1 ECLS THC System Engineer, Aerodyne industries, Mail code EC3 2 ECLS Integration Manager Exploration Development, NASA Johnson Space Center, Mail code OB4 F 2 International Conference on Environmental Systems until it settles, typically on fans and/or filters. Filtering ISS cabin air is a function of the Temperature and Humidity Control (THC) subsystem.
The crew has a procedure that outlines areas to wipe and/or vacuum weekly to increase time between fan cleanings. This reduces buildup over time that affects fan flow rates. CHIPS surfaces, cabin air inlet grills, and diffusers are cleaned. An alternate indirect m ethod is to trend oxygen partial pressure , carbon dioxide part ial pressure, and
ate Number of Crew 6 International Conference on Environmental Systems Figure 5 shows how much FOD collects on a Node 1 IMV fan photographed in 2022. Overall, IMV between Node 1 and Airlock appears to be getting dirtier over time with increased need for cleaning. The second location is the IMV between Node 3 to Cupola. Cupola is a popular crew location for viewing and with the increase of crew size the Cupola is getting more use. The airflow in Cupola is monitored and cleaned to provide ventilation and prevent condensation on the windows. The IMV inlet grill to Cupola and to PMM are in the toilet enclosure in Node 3. This area was being used for crew hygiene and the inlets got dirty faster.
The changes implemented from the 2012 study have been effective such as the addition of screens, improved filters, and improved weekly housekeeping. Overall, the impacts to the ventilation systems are manageable. The graphs show the areas with the greatest airflow change are the Node 1 to Airlock, Node 3 to Cupola, USL to Node 2, and Russian Segment to Node 3. The addition of filters and screens which can be easily cleaned during housekeeping have greatly reduced the frequency to deep clean IMV fans. Removing fans and cleaning them expends larger amounts of crew time and can cause damage to the fans by stopping the fan and not being able to restart such as w as the case with a AAA fan .
3Muirhead, D ., “ imethylsilanedio l (DMSD) Source Assessment and Mitigation on ISS: Estimated Contributions from Personal Hygiene Products Containing Volatile Methyl Siloxanes (VMS), ” 48th ICES-2018-123, July 8–12, 2018, Albuquerque, NM. 4Perry, J., “Analysis of Particulate and iber debris samples returned from International Space Station,” 44th ICES-2014-166, July 13–17, 2014, Tucson, AZ. 5Balistreri, S., and Cover, J., “International Space Station Environmental ontrol and Life Support (E LS) System Overview of Events 2022,” 52nd ICES-2023-437, July 16–20, 2023, Calgary, Canada.
6Braman, K., “Inter-Module Ventilation Changes to the International Space Station Vehicle to Support the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module,” 48th ICES-2018-214, July 8–12, 2018, Albuquerque, NM. 7Urban, D., Dietrich, D., Brooker, J. Meyer, M., Ruff, G., “Fire Detection Tradeoffs as a Function of Vehicle Parameters,” 46th ICES-2016-318, July 10–14, 2016, Vienna, Austria. 8Green, R., Aqui, J., Berger, G., Vijayakumar, R., Perry, J., “Filter Efficiency and Pressure Drop Testing of Returned ISS Bacteria Filter Elements (BFEs),” 47th ICES-2017-211, July 16–20, 2017, Charleston, SC.
9Meyer, M., “Airborne Particulate Monitor: Real -time Reference Quality Aerosol Instrument Payload for ISS Air Pollu tion Quantification,” I ES-2020-65, (scheduled for Lisbon, Portugal, canceled due to COVID-19 global pandemic). 10 eyer, arit, “Feasibility of using Low-Cost COTS Sensors for Particulate Monitoring in Space Missions”, 51st I ES-2022- 232, 10–14 July 2022, St. Paul, MN.
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