<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The survival and transit of microorganisms in Earth's upper atmosphere is relevant to terrestrial ecology and astrobiology, but the topic is understudied due to a scarcity of suitable flight systems. We designed, built, and flew a self-contained payload, Exposing Microorganisms in the Stratosphere (E-MIST), on a large scientific balloon launched from New Mexico on 24 August 2014. The payload carried <italic>Bacillus pumilus</italic> SAFR-032, a highly-resilient spore-forming bacterial strain originally isolated from a NASA spacecraft assembly facility. Our test flight evaluated E-MIST functionality in the stratosphere, including microbiological procedures and overall instrument performance. Herein, we summarize features of the E-MIST payload, protocols, and preliminary results that indicate it is possible to conduct a tightly-controlled microbiological experiment in the stratosphere while collecting pertinent environmental data. Additional studies of this nature may permit survival models for microbes traveling through Earth's harsh upper atmosphere. Moreover, measuring the endurance of spacecraft-associated microbes at extreme altitudes may help predict their response on the surface of Mars.</p></abstract>

The survival and transit of microorganisms in Earth's upper atmosphere is relevant to terrestrial ecology and astrobiology, but the topic is understudied due to a scarcity of suitable flight systems. We designed, built, and flew a self-contained payload, Exposing Microorganisms in the Stratosphere (E-MIST), on a large scientific balloon launched from New Mexico on 24 August 2014. The payload carried Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032, a highly-resilient spore-forming bacterial strain originally isolated from a NASA spacecraft assembly facility. Our test flight evaluated E-MIST functionality in the stratosphere, including microbiological procedures and overall instrument performance. Herein, we summarize features of the E-MIST payload, protocols, and preliminary results that indicate it is possible to conduct a tightly-controlled microbiological experiment in the stratosphere while collecting pertinent environmental data. Additional studies of this nature may permit survival models for microbes traveling through Earth's harsh upper atmosphere. Moreover, measuring the endurance of spacecraft-associated microbes at extreme altitudes may help predict their response on the surface of Mars.

A Balloon-Based Payload for Exposing Microorganisms in the Stratosphere (E-MIST)

NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Engineering and Technology Directorate

University College London & Natural History Museum

Gravitational and Space Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"A Balloon-Based Payload for Exposing Microorganisms in the Stratosphere (E-MIST)"}

The survival and transit of microorganisms in Earth's upper atmosphere is relevant to terrestrial ecology and astrobiology, but the topic is understudied due...

A Balloon-Based Payload for Exposing Microorganisms in the Stratosphere (E-MIST)

Article Category: Methods Article

Pubblicato online: 05 mar 2022

Pagine: 70 - 80

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2014-0019

Parole chiave
Balloon, Stratosphere, Microbes, Bacterial Spores, Survival, Mars, Planetary Protection

© 2014 David J. Smith et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

A Balloon-Based Payload for Exposing Microorganisms in the Stratosphere (E-MIST)

Article Category: Methods Article

Pubblicato online: 05 mar 2022

Pagine: 70 - 80

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2014-0019

Parole chiaveBalloon, Stratosphere, Microbes, Bacterial Spores, Survival, Mars, Planetary Protection

© 2014 David J. Smith et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Parole chiave
Balloon, Stratosphere, Microbes, Bacterial Spores, Survival, Mars, Planetary Protection