Researchers tested the microbes’ tolerance to conditions on Mars by launching them into the Earth’s stratosphere, as they represent important conditions similar to those on the planet. Red crystal.
The research has been published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology. This work paves the way for understanding not only the bacterial threat to space missions, but also opportunities to study independent resources away from Earth.
"We have successfully tested a new way of exposing bacteria and fungi to Mars-like conditions using a scientific hot air balloon that sends experimental equipment into the Earth’s stratosphere. The number of bacteria, especially spores from black mold, can survive a trip, even when exposed to very high UV radiation, "said Marta Filipa Cortesão, the first author of this study from China. Center for Aviation and Space Germany, said.
Understanding the stamina of microorganisms in space travel is critical to the success of future missions. When looking for extraterrestrial life, we need to be sure that whatever we discover will come with us from Earth.
Study author Katharina Siems said: "With the long-term crew missions to Mars, we need to know how human-related microorganisms will survive on the Red Planet, for Some of these bacteria can pose a health risk to astronauts. Also, some bacteria can be invaluable to space exploration.They can help us produce food and supplies things. The substance is independent of the Earth, which is very important when it is far from Earth.
Many of the main features of the environment on the Martian surface cannot be found or easily reproduced at the surface of our planet. However, above the ozone layer in the middle stratosphere of the Earth, the conditions are quite similar.
Cortesão further explained: "We have released microorganisms into the stratosphere inside the MARSBOx (Atmospheric Microbiology Test Equipment for Radiation, Survival and Biological Results), kept in Pressure Mars and filled an artificial atmosphere like Mars throughout the mission.
The box contains two layers of samples, with the bottom layer shielded from radiation. This allows us to separate the effects of radiation from other tested conditions that are hygroscopic, atmospheric and temperature fluctuations during flight. The top layer samples were exposed to a thousand times more ultraviolet radiation than the level that could cause sunburn on our skin.
While not all of the microorganisms survived the trip, a bacterium previously discovered on the International Space Station, the black mold Aspergillus niger, is able to revive once it returns home.
Microorganisms are closely related to us from our bodies, food, and environment, so they cannot be ruled out in space travel.
Using good analogies for the Martian environment, such as the MARSBOx balloon mission to the stratosphere, is a really important way to help explore all of the effects of space travel on microbial life and how we can advance this knowledge towards future spatial discoveries.
