The As, Gs, Cs and Ts of the Space Station: First In-Space Microbe Identification
To monitor microbial growth and ensure a safe and healthy environment on the International Space Station, crew members take regular samples of air, surfaces, and water to be analyzed. Scientists' main focus is still to prevent microbes on the station, rather than to remediate.
Media Credit: NASA
Being able to identify microbes in real-time aboard the International Space Station, without having to send them back to Earth for identification first, would be totally amazing for the world of microbiology and space exploration.The ability to identify microbes in space could aid in the ability to diagnose and treat astronauts in real time, as well as assisting in the identification of life on other planets. It could also benefit other experiments aboard the space station.