A new invention aimed at improving astronaut hygiene could potentially eliminate the need for astronauts to wear the same underwear for extended periods. Currently, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) manage with two small suitcases of clothes, often disposing of worn items by sending them to burn up in the atmosphere. The breakthrough, referred to as a "laundry gun," utilizes cold plasma made of helium, air, and water vapor to effectively kill bacteria that cause odors in fabrics.
Developed by a team led by aerospace engineer Gabe Xu from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the device is still in the proof-of-concept stage. Xu indicated that while the plasma beam currently resembles the size of a pencil, scaling it up could enhance its utility for sterilizing not only clothing but also spacesuits and tools during extraterrestrial missions. This innovative technology was demonstrated at the recent Astrobiology Science Conference.
In the controlled environment of the ISS, astronauts maintain hygiene through regular exercise, reducing the accumulation of dirt. However, the absence of flowing water complicates laundry processes in space, as noted by Elisca Hicks, a crew operations instructor at NASA. She explained that the risk of loose water damaging electronics makes traditional washing impractical, leading to a reliance on functional clothing and eventual disposal of worn items.