Successfully managing biofilm growth on long-duration and deep space missions will require a multi-pronged approach. Biocidal dosing will remain an essential prong. However, its limitations render the development of complementary biofilm mitigation strategies vital. Biofilms are growths of microorganisms, usually bacteria, that adhere to surfaces. In space, these growths present challenges for maintaining optimal system performance and longevity and present the potential of disrupting astronaut health. Biofilms commonly grow in areas where a liquid medium becomes stagnant. In complex systems such as water purification systems, like the Water Purification Assembly (WPA) on the International Space Station (ISS), there are ample opportunities for biofilms to form and propagate, especially in “dead leg” areas. This proposal details a novel approach to biofilm inhibition and mitigation: a test campaign that aims to assess different manifold geometries and biocidal materials for their ability to inhibit biofilm growth, using a current UPA (Urine Processing Assembly) manifold as a baseline control case. Lessons learned from this test campaign will provide a development baseline that can be utilized by NASA LSS (Life Support Systems) design groups, industry partners, and academia partners. The results will be infused into current biofilm mitigation efforts that are ongoing in the space community.

Context: Preventing biofilm buildup in ECLSS components is essential to ensuring the longevity necessary for long duration missions. Manifolds are particularly susceptible to biofilm formation despite current biocidal dosing strategies. This is in part due to stagnation in the “dead legs” that result from traditional machining techniques. Need: A strategy for managing biofilm growth in manifolds for long-duration missions past LEO. Biofilm growth during system dormancy is currently a severe limitation. Objective: Explore the use of complex geometries and printable biocidal materials to manage biofilm growth in manifolds. A testing campaign will assess an array of geometries and materials for their effectiveness at preventing biofilms. Agency Alignment: This activity supports ISS operations and the agency goal of establishing a permanent presence on the moon, as well as the taxonomy items below: 6.1.2, 6.1.3, 6.6.6, 12.1.7