Space Microbes: Engineering Life for Survival Beyond Earth - A NASA Vision for Tomorrow

Space Microbes: Engineering Life for Survival Beyond Earth—A NASA Vision for Tomorrow** explores how microorganisms adapt to space and can be engineered to support human exploration. The book examines microgravity, radiation, and confinement effects on microbial genes, metabolism, and biofilms. It reframes microbes as programmable assets for life support, pharmaceutical production, food synthesis, and waste recycling in spacecraft. Topics include cellular responses, host-microbe interactions, antibiotic resistance, protein crystallization, space agriculture, planetary protection, and synthetic biology. Integrating NASA research with multi-omics and AI, this reference bridges microbiology, biotechnology, and aerospace engineering for researchers and students pursuing sustainable human presence beyond Earth.