I recently read an article about a research project NASA is conducting in the International Space Station. Bacteriologists are swabbing surfaces inside the station to characterize the types of bacteria that may be present.

 They are primarily concerned about contamination of the space station or any manned space vehicle with antibiotic resistant microbes. Infection with such an organism could be disastrous in space as it would be untreatable and could result in death. This is a real concern because, wherever we go we bring along our collection of microbes. We contaminate our living spaces.

Studies have shown that a family home contains a ‘fingerprint’ signature of their collective microbiome. Suppose the family moves out and new occupants move into the same house. After a few weeks the home is now truly theirs. It will show a new ‘fingerprint’ that reflects the new occupant’s collective microbiome.

What has this to do with people in space? Astronauts who are going to occupy a small space such as the International Space Station should be screened for any pathogens that may be present as part of their microbiome. It is only natural that surfaces within the station or spaceship will be seeded with organisms of their collective microbiome as well.

But the situation is different when we consider permanent space habitats. These habitats will by necessity be very much larger than the space station. They will require complete ecological environments to create and support livable Earth-like conditions. Organisms of all types, especially photosynthesizing plants will be needed.

 While it is desirable to have clean spaceships, a permanent settlement will be very ‘dirty’. For better or worse microbes will always be in our lives and our living environment. A diverse microbiome is necessary to our health. It impacts our physiology and sense of wellbeing in a positive way.

Raise a glass of wine and toast the microbes that made it.

Cheers, Richard M Anderson