Eli5: If creatures such as tardigrades can survive in extreme conditions such as the vacuum of space and deep under water, how can astronauts and other space flight companies be confident in their means of decontamination after missions and returning to earth?

Question

My initial post was related to more of bacteria or organisms on space suits or moon walks and then flown back to earth in the comfort of a shuttle.

In: Biology

Answer 1

You can’t. The first moon missions ended in a quarantine on Earth. Today we are reasonably sure there is no life on the moon. Mars and Venus mission planning will have to deal with this potential problem. Alien life is probably ill equipped for surviving on Earth but you cannot be absolutely sure it won’t find a niche and then change ecosystems