This Plasma Gun Could Save Astronauts From Filthy Underwear
NASA is exploring a new invention called a 'laundry gun' that uses cold plasma to sanitize astronauts' clothing. This device could potentially eliminate the need for astronauts to wear the same underwear for extended periods. If successful, it may also help in sterilizing spacesuits and tools for future missions to Mars.
- ▪Astronauts currently wear the same underwear for up to a week before disposing of it.
- ▪The laundry gun uses a plasma beam to kill bacteria that cause odors on fabrics.
- ▪The technology is still in the proof-of-concept stage but shows promise for keeping clothing clean in space.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
As we saw with Artemis 2’s toilet debacle, astronauts deal with lots of inconveniences in space. One particularly icky situation is doing—or, really, not doing—laundry. According to NASA, astronauts bring two small suitcases’ worth of clothes and sometimes wear the same underwear for up to a week—after which they get loaded onto a ship meant to burn up in the atmosphere. Not…
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