NASA's Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, who recently embarked on her third mission to space, delighted social media with her joyful shimmy upon arrival. However, a new and alarming challenge has emerged for her and the eight other crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Scientists discovered a superbug, Enterobacter bugandensis, lurking inside the orbiting laboratory.
This multi-drug-resistant bacterium, notorious for infecting the respiratory system, has evolved and become more potent in the closed environment of the ISS. Spacebugs are not extraterrestrial life forms but rather microorganisms that travel to space hidden with the astronauts. Over 24 years of continuous habitation, these bugs have adapted and evolved in the unique conditions of the ISS.
"Our research uncovers how certain benign microorganisms help adapt and survive opportunistic human pathogens like E. bugandensis in the unfavourable conditions of the ISS. The knowledge gained from this study sheds light on microbial behaviour, adaptation, and evolution in extreme, isolated environments, allowing for the design of novel countermeasure strategies to eradicate opportunistic pathogens, thus protecting the health of astronauts," emphasised Dr Kasthuri Venkateswaran of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
Adding to the mounting challenges, the return of the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, which brought Williams and her colleague Barry Eugene "Butch" Wilmore to the ISS on June 6, 2024, has been delayed to June 18. The delay is due to repairs to faulty parts, weather conditions, and ISS scheduling matters, including spacewalks by other astronauts. While docked at the ISS, a new issue has emerged on the Starliner — a "sticky" oxidizer valve.
Starliner can stay docked to the ISS for a maximum of 45 days, NASA officials have said.
(With inputs from multiple agencies)
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