BRISBANE, Australia,
Feb. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are
conducting experiments with an antimicrobial surface coating
designed to fight the spread of bacteria and viruses, including the
Earth-bound SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the current COVID-19
pandemic.
Developed by Boeing [NYSE: BA] and The University of Queensland (UQ), the joint research
project was tested aboard Boeing's ecoDemonstrator last year as
part of the company's Confident Travel Initiative.
"While testing continues on orbit and on Earth, we're encouraged
by the preliminary results of the antimicrobial chemical compound,"
said Mike Delaney, Boeing's chief
aerospace safety officer. "There is the potential for broad-based
applicability for a surface coating like this when used in
conjunction with other measures to prevent disease
transmission."
The ISS experiment tests two identical sets of objects,
including an airplane seat buckle, fabric from airplane seats and
seat belts, and parts of an armrest and a tray table. One set
received the antimicrobial surface coating, the other did not. ISS
crew members are touching both sets of objects every few days to
transfer microbes naturally occurring on human skin; no microbe
samples were sent to the station for this experiment. Later this
year, the test objects will be returned to Earth for analysis at
Boeing's labs to measure the effectiveness of the surface coating
in a space environment.
"After years of development, it is truly exciting to see our
research in space," said Professor Michael
Monteiro from UQ's Australian Institute for Bioengineering
and Nanotechnology. "The primary purpose of our antimicrobial
coating was to help protect space missions. After the current
pandemic struck, we modified the coating's formula to also target
the COVID-19 virus if it is present on a surface on Earth. We look
forward to continuing our testing regimen and working to gain
regulatory approvals."
An antimicrobial surface coating in a spacecraft could help
ensure the health of the crew and protect the spacecraft's systems
from bacteria – and ultimately may help prevent interplanetary
contamination from Earth-borne or another planet's microbes.
Boeing was selected by NASA as the prime contractor for the ISS
in 1993. Since then, Boeing has provided round-the-clock
engineering support – maintaining the station at peak performance
levels through dynamic missions and ensuring that the full value of
the unique research laboratory is available to NASA, its
international partners and private companies for years to come.
Since 2003, Boeing and The University of
Queensland have collaborated on a broad portfolio of joint
research and development projects. In 2017, the Brisbane-based Boeing Research &
Technology engineers relocated to the university in a
first-of-its-kind partnership for the company's Asia-Pacific region.
The Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
(AIBN) at UQ has been a driver for multidisciplinary research to
tackle global problems. The AIBN houses over 400 researchers across
a wide range of scientific disciplines.
Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading
provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security
systems, and global services. As a top U.S. exporter, the company
supports commercial and government customers in more than 150
countries. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing
continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its
customers and invest in its people and future growth.
Contact:
David Sidman
Boeing Communications
Office Phone: +61 2 9086 3300
Mobile Phone: +61 466 528 657
David.Sidman@boeing.com
Bronwyn Adams
The University of Queensland
Mobile Phone: +61 405 661 856
communications@aibn.uq.edu.au
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SOURCE Boeing