Microbiology and space exploration

Microbes are essential to life on Earth, with billions living in our bodies as part of the human microbiome, supporting our health. Despite sterile spacecraft assembly, astronauts bring their own microbes into space, which eventually colonize spacecraft surfaces.

Space presents extreme conditions: fluctuating temperatures, near-zero pressure and oxygen, increased radiation, and microgravity. These environments differ from the controlled conditions inside space stations like the ISS, and from planetary environments like Mars. Studying how microbes adapt to these extremes offers insights into the origins of life and the potential for life beyond Earth.

Microbial responses in space also impact human health, as astronaut immune systems are weakened, and some microbes become more virulent. Additionally, microbes can damage spacecraft through corrosion.

Understanding microbes in space has practical applications, such as using them for food production, oxygen generation, or biomining in future space missions. As spaceflights lengthen, particularly with missions to Mars, this knowledge will be vital for sustaining life and has potential benefits for biotechnological advancements on Earth.