Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31598: How Microgravity Affects Bacteria: A Space Study by Minnehaha Academy

Microgravity—also known as weightlessness—is a condition in which people or objects appear to be weightless. It’s an environment that exists on the International Space Station (ISS), orbiting around Earth. Scientists and students alike use this unique environment to conduct experiments that would be impossible or vastly different on Earth. One such fascinating experiment is the NanoRacks-Minnehaha Academy study on the effect of microgravity on bacterial growth.

Why is studying bacteria in space important? Bacteria are everywhere: in our bodies, on surfaces, in water, and in the air. Understanding how these tiny organisms behave in space can help keep astronauts healthy, inform Earth-based healthcare practices, and even guide us in preparing for future deep-space travel.

This particular experiment was led by students from Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, supported by NASA and the Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology. The focus was to see how the lack of gravity impacts the rate and manner in which bacteria grow.

Under normal Earth gravity, bacterial colonies expand in predictable patterns. But when you remove gravity from the equation, these patterns change. Previous studies have shown that some bacteria become more virulent in microgravity—meaning they can become stronger and more dangerous. This experiment aimed to confirm and expand on those findings.

Students prepared special bacterial cultures and sent them to the ISS using NanoRacks, a commercial platform that helps get small experiments into space. Once on the ISS, astronauts activated the samples and monitored their growth under the special conditions of the station.

The results of this study could have several important implications:

1. Astronaut Health: Ensuring astronauts are safe from bacterial infections during long missions.

2. Medical Insights: Developing better antibiotics or treatments that can combat bacteria even in unique conditions.

3. Future Space Missions: Preparing for bacterial challenges during long-term missions to the Moon or Mars.

This project also shows how educational institutions like Minnehaha Academy are taking space science into their own hands—offering students real-life, meaningful experiences in research and scientific thinking.

By participating in such a project, students gain an incredible opportunity to become part of the global scientific community and contribute to ongoing research in space biology.

Join the Agnirva Space Internship Program

https://learn.agnirva.com/course/the-agnirva-space-internship-program/

Get certified with over 100 hours of immersive, self-paced learning in astronomy, cosmology, space technology, and climate science through the Agnirva Space Internship Program. Join, complete virtual projects, and earn a digital certificate to showcase your space fluency in interviews, resumes, and beyond.