A Lunar Microbial Survival Model for Predicting the Forward Contamination of the Moon

Astrobiology
Andrew C SchuergerGünther Reitz

Abstract

The surface conditions on the Moon are extremely harsh with high doses of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (26.8 W · m-2 UVC/UVB), wide temperature extremes (-171°C to 140°C), low pressure (10-10 Pa), and high levels of ionizing radiation. External spacecraft surfaces on the Moon are generally >100°C during daylight hours and can reach as high as 140°C at local noon. A Lunar Microbial Survival (LMS) model was developed that estimated (1) the total viable bioburden of all spacecraft landed on the Moon as ∼4.57 × 1010 microbial cells/spores at contact, (2) the inactivation kinetics of Bacillus subtilis spores to vacuum as approaching -2 logs per 2107 days, (3) the inactivation of spores on external surfaces due to concomitant low-pressure and high-temperature conditions as -6 logs per 8 h for local noon conditions, and (4) the ionizing radiation by solar wind particles as approaching -3 logs per lunation on external surfaces only. When the biocidal factors of solar UV, vacuum, high-temperature, and ionizing radiation were combined into an integrated LMS model, a -231 log reduction in viable bioburden was predicted for external spacecraft surfaces per lunation at the equator. Results indicate that external surfaces of landed or crashe...Continue Reading

References

Dec 1, 1979·Journal of Molecular Evolution·W R Kuhn, S K Atreya
Feb 1, 1977·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·J R PuleoR Koukol
Jan 1, 1974·Annual Review of Microbiology·G R Taylor
Jan 1, 1973·Space Life Sciences·R T DillonC A Trauth
Apr 1, 1973·Space Life Sciences·O WhitfieldV I Oyama
Aug 1, 1995·Radiation and Environmental Biophysics·G ReitzM Schäfer
Feb 1, 1996·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·K Dose, A Klein
Sep 7, 2000·Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR·W L NicholsonP Setlow
Aug 24, 2001·Systematic and Applied Microbiology·K VenkateswaranD White
Jan 1, 1989·Advances in Space Research : the Official Journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)·G HorneckH Bucker
Oct 1, 1994·Advances in Space Research : the Official Journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)·G HorneckG Reitz
Jan 1, 1995·Advances in Space Research : the Official Journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)·G HorneckK Strauch
Jan 5, 2002·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·G HorneckC Baumstark-Khan
Dec 22, 1961·Science·D M PORTNERC R PHILLIPS
Sep 27, 2003·Environmental Microbiology·Myron T La DucKasthuri Venkateswaran
Nov 7, 2003·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Wayne L Nicholson
Jan 30, 2004·Microbial Ecology·M T La DucK Venkateswaran
Jan 11, 2007·Radiation and Environmental Biophysics·D I Lowenstein, A Rusek
Feb 20, 2007·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Myron T La DucKasthuri Venkateswaran
Jan 30, 1970·Science·J G FunkhouserJ Zähringer
Jul 13, 1984·Science·G HorneckP Weber
Oct 30, 2007·Astrobiology·Aaron GronstalSteven Wathiong
Feb 12, 2009·Zeitschrift für medizinische Physik·Guenther Reitz
Apr 14, 2009·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Michaela StieglmeierChristine Moissl-Eichinger
Jun 11, 2009·Health Physics·Myung-Hee Y KimFrancis A Cucinotta
Mar 4, 2010·Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR·Gerda HorneckRocco L Mancinelli
Aug 24, 2011·Radiation Research·Tony C SlabaMartha S Clowdsley

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
X-ray

Software Mentioned

RADOM
SAS
GEANT4
Excel for Mac
Statistical Analysis System ( SAS )
SigmaPlot

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved