Do dead bodies decompose in space?

As an expert in astrobiology and the effects of space on biological systems, I can provide some insights into the decomposition process in space. Decomposition is a process that primarily involves the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. In space, the conditions are quite different from those on Earth, which can affect this process significantly. Firstly, space is a vacuum with no oxygen and very low temperatures. The absence of oxygen means that bacteria, which are essential for decomposition, would not be able to function as they do on Earth. Without oxygen, the body would not decompose in the traditional sense. However, if a body were to be exposed to a heat source in space, it could potentially mummify due to the dryness of the environment. Without a heat source, the body would likely freeze, as the temperatures in space can drop extremely low. If a body were sealed within a space suit, it could still undergo a form of decomposition, but this would be limited by the available oxygen within the suit. Once the oxygen is depleted, the decomposition process would halt, and the body would then be preserved in a state similar to freezing or mummification, depending on the temperature conditions. In summary, while the body would not decompose in the typical way we see on Earth, the specific conditions of space, such as the presence or absence of heat, and the containment within a space suit, would determine the final state of the body.

If you do die in space, your body will not decompose in the normal way, since there is no oxygen. If you were near a source of heat, your body would mummify; if you were not, it would freeze. If your body was sealed in a space suit, it would decompose, but only for as long as the oxygen lasted.