Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #32284: Fighting Germs in Space: Student Research Tackles E. Coli in Microgravity

When you think about space travel, you might imagine rocket engines, astronaut suits, or zero-gravity hijinks. But have you ever considered how bacteria behave in space? Students from Valley Christian High School in San Jose did—and they decided to investigate how effective a special antimicrobial product called BioSafe is at preventing the growth of E. coli bacteria in microgravity conditions aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

This question is more than academic. Spacecraft are enclosed environments where microbes can multiply rapidly. Without gravity, air and water behave differently, which can potentially make disinfection harder. That's where BioSafe comes in—a commercial antimicrobial compound known to inhibit bacterial growth on Earth. Would it work just as well in space?

The student-designed experiment placed E. coli cultures with and without BioSafe treatment into a small containment module. It was sent to the ISS where it incubated under controlled conditions. After the mission, scientists compared bacterial growth in space to Earth-based controls.

Results showed that while BioSafe did suppress bacterial growth in microgravity, its efficacy was slightly reduced compared to Earth. This finding suggests that microgravity may influence the way chemicals interact with bacterial cells—an important consideration for future long-duration missions.

This experiment reflects a critical intersection of microbiology, chemistry, and space engineering, and was conducted entirely by high school students. Their work contributes to real-world efforts to keep astronauts safe and healthy.

Most importantly, it showcases the growing role students can play in solving genuine challenges in space science.

Get certified with over 100 hours of immersive, self-paced learning in 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.