Watch Live as NASA Astronauts Gather Microbe Samples During a Spacewalk

On January 30, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will embark on a 6.5-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS). One key objective is collecting surface samples to study microbial presence on the station’s exterior.

This “surface swab” is part of the ISS External Microorganisms project, which explores how microbes travel to space with crew members and how they adapt to the space environment. Samples will be gathered from areas near life-support vents to determine whether the station releases microorganisms into space and how they survive extreme conditions.

NASA to Broadcast Live Spacewalk as Astronauts Collect Microbial Samples for DNA Analysis

NASA will provide live coverage starting at 11:30 AM UTC (06:30 AM EST), with the spacewalk beginning 90 minutes later. Collected samples will be frozen and returned to Earth for advanced DNA sequencing to map microbial diversity and assess metabolic functions without traditional cultivation methods.

Understanding microbial behavior in space is critical for planetary protection, ensuring future missions—especially those to Mars—minimize Earth-based contamination while safeguarding astronauts from potential extraterrestrial microbes. Russia’s Roscosmos is conducting similar research, having already identified bacteria on the station’s outer surface.

Insights from this study could influence spacecraft and spacesuit designs, as well as applications in fields like agriculture and pharmaceuticals. This mission, officially designated Spacewalk 92, continues the ISS’s long-term microbial research, helping scientists answer fundamental questions about microbial survival and reproduction in space.

Read Original Article: Science Alert

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