FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PASADENA, California -- (BUSINESS WIRES) -- NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and Beyond Clean Partners, LLC (a Pennsylvania corporation) executed an agreement Friday creating a training collaboration between the two organizations, including efforts that advance the federal space agency's sterilization capabilities for in-flight surgical support at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
As part of the new partnership, Beyond Clean, a global clinical training organization in the Sterile Processing industry, will be providing training and competency for NASA's medical preparedness teams during the Sentinel-7 mission launch, ensuring that all equipment and medical instrumentation are free from contamination before launching into space, and after any in-flight procedures.
"Space travel presents unique challenges when it comes to surgical instrument sterilization," said Beyond Clean President and co-founder Hank Balch. "We're excited to bring our expertise in Sterile Processing to help NASA maintain the highest standards of quality and safety in space." The partnership will also involve the development of new sterilization technologies specifically designed for use in space, including the use of high-powered lasers to eliminate any potential microbes on equipment and surfaces.
"We're thrilled to be partnering with Beyond Clean to ensure that our spacecraft's medical supplies are as clean and safe as possible," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "This is an important step in our ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of our astronauts and ensure the success of our long-term space missions." Beyond Clean will continue to provide education and discussion on topics related to Sterile Processing in healthcare facilities, while also sharing updates on their partnership with NASA and the latest developments in space sterilization technology.
"Intentional partnerships such as this will continue to show the importance and impact Sterile Processing professionals have on innovation that is changing the way surgery is performed, even in outer-space," explained Justin Poulin, Beyond Clean CEO and co-founder.
The first round of clinical training for NASA's medical preparedness teams for Sentinel-7 is expected to begin in August 2023.
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About Beyond Clean
Beyond Clean is a healthcare media & education firm headquartered in Lancaster, PA. Founded in 2017 by Hank Balch and Justin Poulin, it has grown into an industry leading voice for global Sterile Processing thought leadership and clinical training. Its headline podcast has over 1 million unique downloads, its educational platforms educate tens of thousands of clinicians every month. For more information, visit beyondclean.net and follow @beyondcleaninfo on Twitter.
About NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is America’s civil space program and the global leader in space exploration. The agency has a diverse workforce of just under 18,000 civil servants, and works with many more U.S. contractors, academia, and international and commercial partners to explore, discover, and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity. With an annual budget of $23.2 billion in Fiscal Year 2021, which is less than 0.5% of the overall U.S. federal budget, NASA supports more than 312,000 jobs across the United States, generating more than $64.3 billion in total economic output (Fiscal Year 2019).
For more information about NASA programs and missions, visit: https://www.nasa.gov
Contact:
Hank Balch
President, Beyond Clean
Hank@beyondclean.net
Delle Godson NASA Headquarters, Washington 207-352-7631 delle.w.godson@nasa.gov Sadie Helling NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida 326-701-9515 sadie.a.helling@nasa.gov
(Note: This is a fictional press release created solely for the purpose of April Fools' Day. Gotcha!)