The discovery of viable spores and DNA fragments of Earth-based microorganisms resistant to unfavorable conditions 250 miles above the Earth's surface substantiates the proposal to expand the boundaries of its biosphere, Russia's State Space Corporation Roscosmos said Monday.

Roscosmos cosmonauts had collected 19 samples of cosmic dust from the surface of the International Space Station (ISS) during spacewalks as part of the space experiment dubbed "Test," the corporation said.

"Studies of cosmic dust samples from the ISS twice showed the presence of Mycobacteria and Delftia genera species; the Comamonadaceae family of the Burkholderiales order, which are species of the typical terrestrial and marine genera of bacteria," Roscosmos said.

The experiments were conducted in 2010-2016 by the Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TsNIIMash, part of Roscosmos) experts together with leading Russian scientific bodies.

Their results, Roscosmos concluded, "substantiated the need to establish a new upper boundary of the Earth's biosphere."

Microorganisms Traverse Space on ISS Panels
The International Space Station, which has been orbiting Earth for almost 20 years, is targeted by micrometeorites and comet dust that may contain biogenic substances of extraterrestrial origin. In other words, alien lifeforms may be found on the outer surface of the ISS, Russian space agency Roscosmos revealed in a press release on May 26.

Even at an altitude of some 400 kilometers, the ISS' surface constantly catches a large amount of dust and microparticles, including bacteria, fungal spores and even sea plankton. According to Roscosmos, the ISS is also often targeted by a flow of grain-sized comet particles. Therefore, the station is considered a versatile tool for exobiological research.

"The micrometeorites and comet dust that settle on the ISS' surface may contain the biogenic substance of extraterrestrial origin in its natural form," the Russian space agency stated in the press release.

To determine the origin of those microorganisms, Russian scientists are conducting an analysis of amino acids produced on the surface of the station. "However, the analysis is complicated because the comet material samples are small, and the use of standard methods will not give quick results. Russian experts are currently working on the solution of this problem," the report says.

Since 2010, Russian scientists have been carrying out regular tests to determine possible destructive processes on the outer surface of the ISS. In total, Russian cosmonauts assembled 19 dust samples from the station's surface during spacewalks. Those samples were delivered to Earth on a regular basis for a constant and detailed checkup on the chemical and biological composition of cosmic dust.

In 2013, test results proved that some microorganisms on the outside of the ISS can survive and even develop in the hostile conditions of space, including vacuums, extreme temperatures and harsh cosmic radiation. Thus, especially tenacious terrestrial microorganisms could "move" to other planets on top of space hardware.

Just recently, on May 20, a team of scientists at NASA reported they discovered a new bacterium on filters installed on the ISS and named it after A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, a former president of India. The new lifeform, Solibacillus kalamii, has still not been found on Earth. However, scientists assume it is not an extraterrestrial lifeform either.

"I am reasonably sure it has hitchhiked to the space station on board some cargo and then survived the hostile conditions of space," explained Kasthuri Venkateswaran, a senior research scientist at the Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as quoted by the Indian news agency PTI.

Source: Sputnik News

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Russia thinks microorganisms may be living outside the space station
Washington (UPI) May 26, 2017
Officials with Russia's space agency, Romoscos, say their scientists have identified plankton and other microorganisms among dust samples collected from the outside of the International Space Station. "The micrometeorites and comet dust that settle on the ISS surface may contain biogenic substance of extra-terrestrial origin in its natural form," Roscosmos officials said in a news relea ... read more

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