ISS-MO: Microbial Diversity on International Space Station Surfaces

Eight surface locations on the International Space Station were sampled during two sessions three months apart. The study used polyester wipes and contact slides to collect samples, which were analyzed using cultivation, ATP assays, PMA-qPCR, and 16S-tag and metagenome sequencing to determine viable microbial diversity. The dataset was produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Compare microbial burden and diversity across eight different ISS surface locations based on the described sampling.
• Analyze changes in the viable microbial community over time based on the two sampling sessions three months apart.
• Model the functional and metabolic diversity of microorganisms in a microgravity environment based on the metagenome analysis mentioned.
• Assess the effectiveness of different sampling methods (polyester wipes vs. contact slides) for microbial recovery in space habitats.

Strengths

• Samples were collected from eight distinct locations on the ISS, providing spatial context.
• Sampling was conducted during two sessions three months apart, allowing for temporal analysis.
• Multiple analysis methods were used, including cultivation, ATP assays, PMA-qPCR, and metagenomics, to characterize both cultivable and non-cultivable microbes.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The data is stored in a BIN format, which may require specific tools for access and interpretation.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Environmental samples collected with polyester wipes and contact slides from ISS surfaces, retrieved via Soyuz TMA-14M or SpaceX Dragon capsule, and analyzed on Earth using molecular techniques.

Time Range

Sampling conducted during two consecutive sessions three months apart.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03 13 19:16:03.245871; freshness should be verified.

Geography

International Space Station (ISS).