According to Space Beijing time on July 19th, an astronaut is conducting an experiment on the International Space Station, which may electrify future space exploration missions. The protagonist of this experiment is a group of Shiva bacteria - was sent in early July. On the International Space Station. On Earth, Shewanella has an unusual ability: it can generate electricity. This experiment is to judge whether they can generate electricity in space, and whether human beings can use them to make future space exploration A simpler first step.
Shevaella will one day electrify space flight
Shewanella belongs to the power-generating flora – they can generate electricity by themselves. The reason they can generate electricity is that electrons can be transported from the body to the tiny appendages around them.
In theory, bacteria like Shewanella can not only generate electricity, but also help astronauts purify water – both of which help to reduce the spacecraft carrying materials in space flight.
However, before scientists pin their hopes on these micro-power plants, they must prove that Shiva bacteria can survive and multiply in space. This is why astronauts conduct this experiment on the International Space Station. In particular, scientists worry that Sheva bacteria need to form a thin film that is tightly tied together to form a thin sheet to generate electricity, a process that may not be completed in space.
Once these bacteria return to Earth, project scientists will study whether they are affected by the microgravity environment. If they are not adversely affected by the microgravity environment, this will be a striking advancement in space technology.
