ISS 3D Map of Microbes and Metabolites from 803 Flight Samples

A 3D map of microbial and chemical composition across the International Space Station, created from 803 samples collected during space flight. The dataset was produced by NASA and relates the ISS environment to Earth habitats along an axis of industrialization. It was last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Modeling microbial community distribution based on module use patterns within the ISS.
• Comparing built environment microbiomes along an axis of industrialization using the ISS as an extreme case.
• Developing culture-independent sequencing protocols for microbial risk monitoring in space.
• Informing long-term human health maintenance strategies for space habitats based on chemistry and microbiology data.

Strengths

• Includes 803 physical samples collected during space flight, providing a substantial sample size.
• Covers nine distinct modules within the ISS, allowing for spatial analysis of the habitat.
• Integrates both microbial and chemical (metabolite) data for a multi-modal environmental profile.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is provided in a BIN file format, which may require specialized tools for access and analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Culture-independent sequencing and chemical analysis of 803 samples collected during space flight.

Time Range

Samples collected during space flight; specific dates are not provided.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 20:11:58.580726; freshness should be verified.

Geography

International Space Station (ISS), a space-built environment.