Astronauts Will Swab The Space Station’s Exterior For Microbes
Astronauts are scheduled to venture outside the International Space Station to collect microbiological samples during crew spacewalks for the ISS External Microorganisms experiment.
This investigation focuses on sampling at sites near life support system vents to examine whether the spacecraft releases microorganisms, how many, and how far they may travel.
This experiment could help researchers understand whether and how these microorganisms survive and reproduce in the harsh space environment and how they may perform at planetary destinations such as the Moon and Mars.
Extremophiles, or microorganisms that can survive harsh environments, are also of interest to industries on Earth such as pharmaceuticals and agriculture.
Spacecrafts and spacesuits are thoroughly sterilized before missions; however, humans carry their own microbiomes and continuously regenerate microbial communities.
It’s important to understand and address how well current designs and processes prevent or limit the spread of human contamination.
The data could help determine whether changes are needed to crewed spacecraft, including spacesuits, that are used to explore destinations where life may exist now or in the past.
NASA Image: JSC2023E026246 – The ISS External Microorganisms investigation sampling caddy has eight sample canisters. Six of these are used to hold swabbed samples from various locations on the exterior of the International Space Station. The remaining two canisters are reserved as negative controls to characterize any contamination that may have occurred during assembly or transport. — NASA
NASA Image: JSC2023E026245 – A member of the ISS External Microorganisms payload development team demonstrates removing a swab from the sampling caddy that is used by an astronaut during a spacewalk. A crew member uses the swabbing tool to collect samples from the exterior surface of the International Space Station at various locations as part of a study to examine whether a spacecraft releases microorganisms and, if so, how many and how far they may travel. Results could inform preparations for future human exploration missions to the Moon and Mars. — NASA
Astrobiology
