Sunita Williams

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, who recently docked at the International Space Station (ISS) in style on board the Boeing Starliner spacecraft on June 7, currently faces biological adversity at the orbital laboratory.

A spaceborne bacteria called ‘Enterobacter bugandensis’ has been detected onboard the ISS, which is reportedly said to be “multi-drug resistant”. And thus, it earns its name, ‘Spacebug’.

Williams is currently lodged at the ISS along with her crew of eight members.

The bacteria are reportedly said to have evolved and adapted to the controlled environment inside the space station.

A team consisting of researchers from NASA’s jet propulsion lab (JPL) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Madras has been tasked with tackling this ‘Spacebug’.

The research for this is reportedly being led by principal investigator Dr Kasthuri Venkateswaran from JPL, NASA.

NASA recently acknowledged the presence of the bacteria on the ISS, terming it a “frequently encountered hospital-acquired pathogen.”

Williams was slated to spend about a week on the ISS along with NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore.

(With inputs from syndicated feed)