Sequencing DNA, RNA and related molecules as a tool to advance space exploration

As humans seek to return to the Moon, and eventually to Mars and beyond, new challenges must be overcome to keep astronauts safe and healthy. This includes protecting crew members from harmful organisms in their environment, treating infections that may arise, monitoring nutrition and understanding how the human body adapts to spaceflight during missions that could last multiple years. Since the International Space Station (ISS) was first occupied in 2000, crew health has been monitored with thorough check-ups before and after flight, and the collection of many samples during flight that are brought back to Earth for analysis. During longer missions to more distant solar system locales, where returning samples to Earth is no longer practical, being able to analyse samples aboard the spacecraft could be very important.