Interplanetary Transport of Microorganisms: Survival, Growth, and Adaptation

摘要

The primary objective of our current work is to investigate the factors in the martian environment limiting survival and growth of terrestrial bacteria known to contaminate robotic spacecraft, primarily bacterial spores. In Mars simulations, solar UV is the most rapidly lethal factor to cells and spores, but is easily shielded. Results from experiments under simulated Mars conditions indicate that growth of terrestrial bacteria is further constrained by extreme low pressure, atmospheric composition, and limited availability of liquid water and organic nutrients.