Everyone wants an easier way to manage laundry, and astronauts are no exception. Doing laundry in space poses unique challenges, so researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville are exploring new methods. Their prototype device, nicknamed the “laundry gun,” is a handheld, plasma-based tool designed to sanitize fabrics without water or conventional detergents—an approach that could prove useful on long-duration space missions.
What Is a Laundry Gun?
A laundry gun is an experimental handheld device that uses cold plasma to reduce bacteria on soft materials. Developed by researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville under the direction of mechanical and aerospace engineering professor Gabe Xu, the device is being tested in collaboration with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
Unlike a traditional washing machine, the laundry gun does not remove stains, oils, or visible dirt. Instead, it focuses on sanitizing fabrics—clothing, bedding, upholstery, and even spacesuits—by exposing them to reactive plasma species that deactivate microbes. According to the research team, the prototype produces plasma from a mixture of helium, air, and water vapor. The plasma generates short-lived compounds that can kill bacteria on fabric surfaces, offering sanitation without a full wash cycle or liquid disinfectants.
The project includes efforts to scale up the concept to a larger handheld model capable of covering more fabric in a single pass. Engineers are also addressing practical issues such as ozone generation during treatment and ensuring the device is compatible with closed environmental systems like those found in spacecraft.
Why Is NASA Interested in New Laundry Methods?
There is no conventional washing machine aboard the International Space Station. Current practice is for astronauts to wear items until they are discarded as waste, which is an acceptable approach on short missions but impractical for longer trips away from Earth. Water is a precious resource in space, and recycling or carrying enough water for repeated wash cycles significantly increases mission cost and complexity.
Key challenges for laundering off-planet include strict requirements for compatibility with air purification systems, the limited amount of water available for each treatment, and the need to recover and purify laundry wash water back into potable water. Because of these constraints, NASA and partner organizations have explored multiple alternatives, from low-water detergents to entirely new washing systems.
The laundry gun represents a different strategy: instead of trying to replicate Earth-style washing in microgravity, it targets microbial contamination directly, reducing the need for water and conventional cleaning agents. This makes it a potentially attractive option for maintaining hygiene in closed environments where resource efficiency and minimal chemical off-gassing are essential.
Could the Laundry Gun Be Used on Earth?
The current laundry gun is a research prototype and not a consumer product. It is not intended to replace conventional washers and dryers, which remove sweat, oils, stains, and debris as well as bacteria. For household laundry, detergents and mechanical agitation remain necessary to handle soils and visible stains.
That said, the plasma technology behind the laundry gun has broader experimental applications that researchers are investigating. Potential uses include sanitizing equipment and spacesuits, treating crops in controlled environments, purifying water, revitalizing air, processing waste, and even treating lunar or Martian regolith for construction or resource extraction. These ideas are in early stages and will require focused development and testing before any spaceflight deployment.
Some space-tested cleaning approaches have previously led to terrestrial benefits. For example, industry partners and research institutes have explored how low-resource cleaning methods developed for space could translate to more sustainable laundry solutions on Earth. However, the laundry gun itself has not been positioned for home use, and significant engineering would be needed to make a safe, affordable consumer version.
For now, the laundry gun is best understood as a specialized sanitation tool aimed at reducing microbial load on fabrics in environments where water and chemical use are constrained. It complements, rather than replaces, traditional laundering methods—especially when visible soils and stain removal are required.
Sources
- The University of Alabama in Huntsville — UAH research advances ‘plasma gun’ technology that could transform space laundry and sanitation for future missions
- NASA — NASA Glenn interns take space washing machine designs for a spin
- NASA — Experiments riding 24th SpaceX cargo mission to space station study bioprinting, crystallization, laundry