Research indicates that excessive sterilization aboard the ISS may not foster a healthy microbial environment. Scientists Benitez and Zhao propose that beneficial microbes be introduced instead of being eliminated entirely. They suggest that designing spacecraft to cluster high-activity human modules away from low-activity ones could help manage microbial spread, enhancing both health and safety during deep-space missions. The balance between microbial management and human health onboard is crucial, and further investigation is necessary to determine optimal strategies for future space missions.
"The extensive use of disinfection chemicals might not be the best approach to maintaining a healthy microbial environment, although there is certainly plenty of research to be conducted," Benitez said.
"We found that microbes in modules with little human activity tend to stay in those modules without spreading. When human activity is high in a module, then the microbes spread to adjacent modules," Zhao said.
"We are of course talking as microbiologists and chemists—perhaps spacecraft engineers have more pressing reasons to put certain modules at certain spots," Zhao said. "These are just preliminary ideas."
"Introducing microbes that are beneficial to human health might be better than constantly struggling to wipe out all microbial life on the station," Benitez suggested.
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