The goal of the student-led project RVSAT-1, India’s first microbiological nanosatellite, is to investigate gut microbes in space in order to support astronaut health. Students from Bangalore’s RV College of Engineering created the nanosatellite, which was launched in December 2024 on ISRO’s PSLV C-60.
In order to gather information for space medicine and applications on Earth, like advanced waste recycling systems and fighting antibiotic resistance, the mission examines the growth of the gut bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron in zero gravity. The data will also assist ISRO in finding ways to keep astronauts healthy during lengthy space travel. The experiment also included prebiotic supplementation, which may yield revolutionary discoveries about preserving astronaut gut health.
Because they improve digestion and strengthen the immune system, gut bacteria are vital to human health. By examining how they behave in microgravity, scientists may be able to create plans to keep astronauts healthy during prolonged spaceflight.
Before entering space, RVSAT-1 underwent a number of high-stress tests, such as vibration, thermal vacuum (T-VAC), a 1,500g shock test, electromagnetic interference, and compatibility evaluations. These tests replicated the harsh environment of space, ensuring the payload could withstand extreme conditions. The team had to downsize complex laboratory equipment, such as incubators and spectrophotometers, into a compact 2-U nanosatellite. To analyze bacterial growth, the team used an optical setup and a sophisticated microfluidic system.
The analysis and publication of a research article containing the data gathered from RVSAT-1 will be made available to ISRO, academic institutions, and the larger scientific community.
Additionally, studying bacteria in microgravity can help us better understand mechanotransduction and possibly increase the effectiveness of fermentation operations on land, which use microbes to make pharmaceuticals like antibiotics.
Microbes can change and adapt to their surroundings. While some of these changes, like the creation of biofilms, can have detrimental effects on astronaut health and spacecraft integrity, others, like a tendency for plastic to degrade, can encourage sustainability and self-sufficiency in space.
