Metastable Oxygen Nanobubbles to Advanced Life Support Systems in Space Exploration

Nanobubbles (NB) are ultrafine gas domains in liquids with nano-scale diameters that are typically smaller than 1,000 nm. They have remarkably large interfacial surface areas and unique physicochemical properties owing to their small dimensions. Recent studies have shown that they can be suspended in water for hours up to months and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) without added catalysts. Despite these interesting observations, applications of NBs in life support systems for space exploration have not been widely explored. We believe NBs have the potential to become a key component of next generation biphasic fluids to address the essential water and oxygen supply needs of space transport, survival, and colonization. In addition, this technology has breakthrough potential for engineered terrestrial systems such as conventional water and wastewater treatment, horticulture, aquaculture, and algae cultivation. The proposed project aligns with the Space Mission Technology Directorate research areas, particularly supporting the Maine Space Complex. The objectives of the following research tasks were co- developed with Dr. John Graf technology development lead for life support systems at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), who linked our research activities to the priorities of his division and to Dr. Emily Matula, extravehicular activity flight controller and an expert of algae cultivation in space at NASA JSC and to Dr. Chris Matty, international space station (ISS) program integrator and expertise in crew life support in ISS at NASA JSC. This transformative and novel research will explore the fundamental characteristics of NBs with pragmatic viewpoints to advance human spaceflight life support systems. The first phase of the project will focus on fundamental aspects of NBs including generation, stability, mass transport, interfacial interactions, and reactivity. The second phase will demonstrate their application potential for algae growth for sustainable O2 harvesting in space. The completion of this project is also going to lead new research opportunities at subsequent technology maturation stages such as testing NB application feasibility at ISS. This proposed project is designed to build research capacity for production, characterization, and application of NBs at University of Maine (UM) and University of Southern Maine (USM). The project will stimulate competitive research in Maine and help junior faculty and their graduate/undergraduate students become national leaders in this emerging field. Our team will develop Maine’s first liquid reaction platform in the form of CubeSats and participate in UM’s High-Altitude Ballooning Program and collaborate with blueShift Aerospace Inc., a Maine-based aerospace company, to perform two rocket launches as technology demonstration. The multi-institution collaboration is led by Dr. Onur Apul, an early-career faculty member at UM, who is establishing a research program in the nano-enabled water treatment field with co-investigator Dr. Ali Abedi, Associate Vice President for Research. Other collaborators include Dr. Garcia-Segura, an early-career, Hispanic faculty member at Arizona State University and Dr. Ashanthi Maxworth, an early-stage faculty member and her expertise is CubeSat flight control at USM. Investigators are active collaborators in Maine Space Grant Seed Project and co- authored several publications and currently developing a decadal survey with NASA researchers. The investigators are engaged with diverse teams of graduate and undergraduate students, including underrepresented groups in engineering, such as women and members of minority groups. At least 50% of all researchers will be selected from underrepresented groups to increase the diversity of the researcher cohort in corresponding institutions. Additionally, student training and equipment acquisition in Maine will be the two essential outcomes (50% of the total direct cost) of the proposed project.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.