To comply, NASA has sought to sanitize Mars rovers at a threshold of no more than 300,000 bacterial spores on any surface. That process has revealed plenty of microbes that can survive high temperatures, low nutrients, and a lack of moisture.

They will swab the exterior of the International Space Station to collect microbiological samples surviving in the vacuum of space.

The survival of organisms in the vacuum of space could support the theory that life didn't start on Earth, but originated elsewhere in the galaxy.

Learning how to deal with the microorganisms hitching a ride with humans Two NASA astronauts are set to venture outside the International Space Station (ISS) in search of signs of life.… Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams should have been back on Earth months ago,

Astronauts are scheduled to venture outside the International Space Station to collect microbiological samples during crew spacewalks for the ISS External Microorganisms experiment. This investigation focuses on sampling at sites near life support system vents to examine whether the spacecraft releases microorganisms,