CAVES microbiological sampling – how to look for life

NASA's director of Astrobiology Institue, Penelope Boston, explains how to take samples of microbiological life in caves.

This video is shown to astronauts on ESA’s CAVES course – Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behaviour and performance Skills – a two-week course that prepares astronauts to work safely and effectively in multicultural teams in an environment where safety is critical – in caves.

From disinfection to gathering and storage, after watching this video you will know how to search for alien life underground.

Caves are little studied areas and can resemble environments found on other planets. Caves exist on the Moon and Mars and could be used by astronauts for shelter when we explore our Solar System