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It is hypothesized that the weightless environment experienced during space flight has a stimulating effect on the growth rate of microorganisms. This theory was tested with the bacterium Escherichia coli using protocols and supporting hardware evolved over five space shuttle missions between April, 1991 and July, 1993. In comparing 38 bacterial growth experiments across multiple flights, the overall average population density of E. coli achieved in space was 88% greater than that of matched ground controls (N=19 flight, 19 ground, p < 0.05). Depending on test variables, growth increases in space of up to 257% over ground controls were observed. Analysis of bacterial proteins by gel electrophoresis indicated an apparent difference in expressed protein between flight and ground control E. coli samples in the range of 20-30 kD.

The Biological Wastewater Processor Experiment Definition team is performing the preparatory ground research required to define and design a mature space flight experiment. One of the major outcomes from this work will be a unit-gravity prototype design of the infrastructure required to support scientific investigations related to microgravity wastewater bioprocessing. It is envisioned that this infrastructure will accommodate the testing of multiple bioprocessor design concepts in parallel as supplied by NASA, small business innovative research (SBIR), academia, and industry. In addition, a systematic design process to identify how and what to include in the space flight experiment was used.