Lotus-plant-inspired dust-busting shield to protect space gear
GREENBELT, Md. -- A NASA team is developing a transparent coating that mimics the self-cleaning properties of the lotus plant to prevent dirt from sticking to the surfaces of spaceflight gear and bacteria from growing inside astronaut living quarters.
Materials engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., are working to develop a "lotus" coating that can survive the harsh space environment and minimize contaminants from adhering to the surfaces of radiators, spacesuits, scientific instruments, robotic rovers, solar array panels, windows and other hardware used to gather scientific data or carry out exploratory activities during missions.
The technology, which was inspired by the lotus plant that lives along muddy waterways in Asia, was commercially developed as a coating for windows to reduce the need for cleaning. Although a lotus leaf appears smooth, under a microscope, its surface actually contains innumerable tiny spikes. These spikes greatly reduce the area on which water and dirt can attach, preventing them from adhering strongly to the leaf. Water droplets literally roll off, taking mud, tiny insects, and contaminants with them.
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Is bacteria growing on astronaut living quarters really a big deal? I'm not po-poing this I'm just curious. There are tons of bacteria all around us, so what harm could bacteria in space do.
I found some other info suggesting that pathogenic bacteria become more infectious in space so this now makes far more sense. This coating could be very useful but that still leaves the problem of pathogens that inhabit our bodies.
Bacteria and fungi on earth (and in our intestines) are in ecological balance, which is not the case in space habitats. People in such environments spend a significant amount of time scrubbing all surfaces. Not very heroic, especially for self-designated alpha males, but there you have it.
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