Astronauts to Collect Microbial Samples from Space Station Exterior
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 22, 2025
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are preparing for a unique task during upcoming spacewalks-collecting microbiological samples from the station’s exterior. This activity is part of the ISS External Microorganisms experiment, designed to investigate whether microorganisms from the station’s interior are vented into space, how far they can travel, and their survival capability.
The sampling will focus on areas near vents connected to the life support systems. The findings could provide valuable insights into whether spacecraft release microorganisms into space and how they might behave in the extreme conditions of the space environment. This research is crucial for assessing potential contamination risks at planetary destinations such as the Moon and Mars.
Understanding how these microorganisms survive and reproduce could also offer insights beneficial to various industries on Earth, including pharmaceuticals and agriculture, particularly in relation to extremophiles. These resilient microorganisms thrive in harsh conditions and have applications in creating innovative technologies.
Despite extensive sterilization procedures for spacecraft and spacesuits before missions, astronauts inevitably carry their own microbiomes. These microbial communities are continuously regenerated, raising questions about their ability to persist and spread in space. This experiment seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of current designs and protocols in minimizing contamination risks.
The results could lead to adjustments in spacecraft and spacesuit designs to better control microbial dispersal, particularly for missions targeting locations where life might exist or have existed.
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