Educator Guide: Bacteria Can Survive for Years in Space

International Space Station

Clumps of bacteria survived for three years on the outer surface of the International Space Station, pictured here, shielded from the hazards of space by only themselves. New research suggests such clumps might be able to survive a trip between Earth and Mars.

NASA, Roscosmos

About this guide

In this guide, students will learn about research conducted aboard the International Space Station and develop their own research question that could be explored on the space station.

This Guide Includes:

Spacefaring bacteria in the spotlight

Students will answer questions about the online Science News article “If bacteria band together, they can survive for years in space,” which describes an experiment on the International Space Station that suggests microbes are capable of surviving interplanetary travel. A version of the story, “Bacteria can survive for years in space,” can be found in the September 26, 2020 issue of Science News.