If you thought NASA’s spacecraft cleanrooms were ultra-sterile spaces, think again.
Despite being among the most meticulously controlled environments on Earth, NASA’s cleanrooms—where spacecraft are assembled to prevent any biological contamination—have been found to host a surprising array of microbial life.
Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in collaboration with scientists from Saudi Arabia and India, have discovered 26 previously unknown bacterial species thriving in these ultra-sterile spaces, raising questions about microbial resilience, and the untapped potential of space-hardy microbes.
Cleanrooms are meant to be the final line of defense against microbial stowaways. With tightly regulated air, temperature, and humidity, they’re inhospitable by design.
However, the finding of "tough" microbes, known as extremophiles, possess genetic traits like DNA repair and resistance to radiation and chemicals, suggests they could potentially withstand the rigors of space travel and could be potential bio-tools for the future.
The study is led by researchers from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and institutions across India and Saudi Arabia.
“We were looking for extremophiles—organisms that can survive the kinds of extremes found in space,” explained King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Professor Alexandre Rosado, the lead KAUST researcher on the project and a contributor to several NASA working groups on planetary protection and space microbiology.
“And what we found were bacteria with the potential to not only hitchhike to Mars, but to help us engineer future medicines, preserve food, or clean up toxic waste right here on Earth.”
The researchers explained that these newly discovered microbes have evolved strategies that could withstand not just bleach and radiation, but possibly interplanetary travel.
Junia Schultz, the study's first author, said these discoveries “raise critical questions for planetary protection,” but also open new doors.
“Imagine engineering these genes into beneficial microbes for medical use or food safety. Space, it turns out, might be an untapped reservoir for biotech innovation.”
The findings are published in journal Microbiome.
As Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran, a senior NASA scientist and co-author of the study put it: “These tiny organisms could one day help us terraform other planets, cure diseases, or simply understand how life began and thrives in the most unexpected places.”
In addition, the study assists NASA with anticipating the type of bacteria astronauts will encounter in their space missions and in developing strategies to mitigate microbial contamination in cleanrooms.
