The plan is for the spacewalkers to collect samples from sites near life support system vents on the exterior of the ISS. Scientists will be able to determine if the ISS releases microorganisms and assess whether any can survive in the harsh environment outside the outpost.

For nearly seven months, the corridors of the International Space Station (ISS) have been devoid of the usual bustle of astronauts preparing for spacewalks. The halt came after a series of alarming incidents involving NASA’s aging Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuits,

Two spacewalks scheduled for this January will see astronauts updating station hardware and searching for microorganisms on the ISS, with each walk lasting over six hours. Two NASA astronauts are set

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.

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,