A Design Framework for Human Wellness Beyond Earth

Microgravity fundamentally breaks conventional hygiene. Water floats. Humidity drops. Skin dries. Odor lingers. The psychological comfort of feeling clean, something we take for granted on Earth, becomes a genuine operational and well-being concern.

As commercial space stations, orbital hotels, and extended lunar missions move from concept to construction, hygiene infrastructure is an unresolved design problem with significant market opportunity.

By 2030, thousands of people will begin to travel to low Earth orbit for tourism, research, and work. The commercial space station market is accelerating rapidly:

• Orbital Hotels: Voyager Station (Orbital Assembly), Axiom's commercial modules, and partnerships like Hilton's announced collaboration with Voyager are hubs designed for guests, not just astronauts. These hospitality environments demand consumer-grade comfort, not survival-mode workarounds.

• Lunar Surface Operations: NASA's Artemis program aims to establish sustained human presence on the Moon by the late 2020s. Lunar Gateway and eventual surface habitats will house crews for weeks to months in partial gravity with limited resupply.

• Mars Mission Preparation: Every system validated in LEO and on the Moon becomes critical research for 2-3 year Mars transit missions where resupply is impossible and crew wellness directly determines mission success.

The gap

Current space hygiene is functional but minimal—wet wipes, no-rinse shampoo, sponge baths. This approach doesn't scale to hospitality-grade experiences, long-duration crew wellness, or the psychological demands of deep space travel.

Our Approach

WTSA’s Space Sensory Lab is reimagining a comprehensive sensory-forward personal care and hygiene system built on four pillars:

1. Waterless & Low-Water Cleansing
Reformulated cleansers, postbiotic textiles, and phase-change gels that clean effectively without traditional water infrastructure. Designed for closed-loop environments where every gram of water is precious.

2. Microbiome-Conscious Products
Skin and scalp health in space requires supporting—not stripping—the body's natural microbial ecosystem. Our formulations maintain barrier function and microbial balance under radiation exposure and altered humidity.

3. Integrated Wellness Monitoring
Non-invasive biosensors embedded in routine hygiene products (patches, wipes, lotions) that track hydration, skin integrity, and early stress markers. Data flows to crew health systems, enabling preventive care.

4. Experience Design
The "Nebula Shower" concept: a contained, recirculating mist system that recreates the sensory experience of bathing in microgravity. Designed for orbital hotels and premium habitat modules where guest experience drives revenue.

WHY THIS MATTERS

For Space Hotels:
In premium hospitality, guest experience is the product. Visitors paying $300K+ for an orbital stay expect more than astronaut austerity. Hygiene infrastructure that feels luxurious (not clinical) is essential for repeat bookings, premium pricing, and brand reputation.

For Lunar & Mars Missions:
On a 6-month lunar rotation or a 3-year Mars journey, crew psychological health becomes mission-critical. Hygiene is an integral element of a mental resilience system. The rituals of feeling clean, maintaining skin health, and having private moments of self-care directly impact performance, research success, ROI, cognitive function, interpersonal dynamics, and long-term mental health. NASA and commercial partners need validated solutions before committing to permanent off-Earth presence.

For Operational Efficiency: Closed-loop hygiene systems reduce water use, waste mass, and medical intervention needs—metrics that matter for every kilogram launched and every hour of crew time.

For Strategic Positioning: Every hygiene system tested in LEO becomes IP and operational knowledge transferable to lunar habitats, Mars transit vehicles, and beyond. Early movers own the playbook.

Market Position

We sit at the intersection of aerospace life support, consumer wellness, and hospitality design—a white space with few credible players and growing demand from:

• Space Hotel Developers: Orbital Assembly, Axiom, Vast—all designing guest experiences that require hygiene beyond the ISS standard

• Hospitality Brands: Hilton and others entering space tourism need a differentiated wellness infrastructure

• Government Agencies: NASA, ESA, and commercial partners planning sustained lunar presence and Mars missions need validated crew wellness systems

• Aerospace Contractors: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and others seeking turnkey human factors solutions for habitat modules

The Research Imperative: LEO hotels and lunar outposts aren't just commercial ventures—every hygiene protocol, product formulation, and system design validated in these environments becomes essential data for human Mars settlement. We're interested in building the foundation for permanent multi-planetary life.

Earth Applications: Technology Transfer

Space constraints drive innovation that solves terrestrial problems. The same technologies developed for orbital and lunar hygiene have significant commercial and humanitarian applications on Earth:

Water Scarcity & Conservation Waterless and ultra-low-water cleansing systems designed for closed-loop space habitats translate directly to drought-prone regions, disaster relief, and water-stressed communities. A shower system that uses 90% less water than conventional plumbing has immediate value in California, Sub-Saharan Africa, and refugee camps alike.

Healthcare & Elder Care Bed-bound patients, surgical recovery, and long-term care facilities face hygiene challenges remarkably similar to microgravity: limited mobility, sensitive skin, and infection risk. Postbiotic cleansing textiles, no-rinse formulations, and integrated skin monitoring improve dignity and outcomes for millions.

Remote & Extreme Environments Oil rigs, mining operations, military forward bases, Antarctic research stations, long-haul shipping—anywhere water infrastructure is limited or resupply is difficult benefits from space-validated hygiene systems.

Consumer Wellness & Premium Beauty Microbiome-conscious skincare and biosensor-integrated products represent a fast-growing market segment. Formulations proven in the most demanding environment (space) carry credibility and performance claims that command premium positioning.

Sustainable Hospitality Hotels and resorts under pressure to reduce water consumption and environmental impact can adopt closed-loop and low-water hygiene systems as a competitive differentiator—bringing space-grade sustainability to Earth-bound guests.

The Dual-Use Advantage: Space Hygiene 2030 isn't a single-market bet. Every dollar invested in orbital R&D generates IP, products, and systems deployable across multiple high-value Earth markets. This de-risks the investment thesis and accelerates path to revenue.

The Ask

We're seeking strategic partners and investors to advance our research from concept to flight-ready systems.

Priorities:

• Product formulation and microgravity testing

• Prototype development for the contained shower system

• Biosensor integration and data architecture

• Hospitality partnership development