NASA is planning to collect microbiological samples from the outside of the International Space Station (ISS) during an upcoming spacewalk. The samples will be taken near life support system vents and could reveal how the ISS releases microorganisms into space. This experiment, part of the ISS External Microorganisms project, aims to study the behavior of microorganisms in extreme environments.
Despite sterilizing spacecraft and spacesuits before missions, humans carry unique microbiomes that cannot be removed. When astronauts travel to space, they bring trillions of microorganisms with them. The ISS microbiome is unlike any on Earth, with microbes facing harsh conditions like radiation and microgravity.
The study of extremophiles – life forms that can withstand extreme conditions – could have implications for industries on Earth and provide insights into how hardy microbes might survive on other extraterrestrial destinations. The upcoming sample collection will also inform the concept of Panspermia, which suggests that life originated elsewhere in the galaxy before reaching and colonizing Earth.
Previous experiments have tested how earthly extremophiles fare in space, with algae and tardigrades showing surprising resilience. However, collecting microbiological samples from the ISS exterior could shed light on how humans might be contaminating space, raising questions about the origin of potential microorganisms on other planets like Mars.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/nasa-astronauts-set-to-search-for-life-clinging-to-the-iss-exterior-2000553255