Space laundry solved: Cold plasma tech kills bacteria on astronaut clothing

Researchers demonstrated a compact cold-plasma jet that sanitizes fabric without water by generating reactive oxygen species.

In lab tests on cotton contaminated with Staphylococcus caprae, it reduced bacteria more effectively than current ISS cleaning methods.

The team, led by Gabe Xu and NASA microbiologist Chelsi Cassilly, says the approach could be scaled for laundry, suits, tools, and habitat surfaces.

If further testing succeeds, the method could help future lunar and Martian crews conserve water and lower infection risk.