May 29, 2008 Houston we have a problem! We cannot escape the
fact that humans are a thriving conglomeration of bacteria and
microbes, which are essential to our biological functions.
However if you’re NASA, or any other space-exploring
organisation for that instance, this presents a problem.
Microbiology Today reports on the microbiota that has already
made the transition to space. “The first extensive in-flight
studies of microbial diversity were carried out on the Russian
space station Mir. Mir was humanity’s first long-term inhabited
outpost in space, launched in 1986 and consisting of a five-port
docking hub with connected resupply ships and habitation
modules. Over the course of the station’s almost 15 years of
service, numerous studies were conducted on the biota
surviving”. Widespread bacterial colonisation was found,
particularly in free-floating water globules due to the
antigravity system. Contaminants due to human occupation were
found throughout the station, and alongside the bacterial biota,
thes