SPACE
Astronauts to clean space underwear with microbes
Words by Mindy Weisberger
Sharing your unwashed underwear with another person isn’t ideal. However, for astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS), performing a spacewalk requires that they share not only the spacesuits, but also a piece of clothing that’s worn underneath, known as the liquid cooling and ventilation garment (LCVG).
Access to a freshly laundered LCVG isn’t an option on the ISS, but technicians with the European Space Agency (ESA) are taking steps to improve the antimicrobial properties in LCVG materials to keep these shared garments clean and fresh for longer.