2013 SPRING SPACE GRANT:TESTING VIABILITY OF

BACTERIA AT HIGH ALTITUDE Presented at the Colorado Undergraduate Space Research

SymposiumApril 20, 2013

Aurora, CO

Team Charlie:Aaron Bartelt

Stacie NoetzelmannPhilip Jurney

Jeffrey Rascon

Supervisors: Dr. Victor Andersen & Tom Dillon

Project Goals & Mission We used the climate at 30 km above the

Earth's surface as an analogue for the environment on the surface of Mars.

We tested for the viability of spore-forming bacteria species in such conditions.

Team Charlie also took pictures of the horizon, measuring G-forces, humidity, temperature and atmospheric pressure experienced throughout the flight.

Requirements Mass Budget

< 850g Financial Budget

< $250.00 Arduino

Accelerometer Analog Temperature Sensor Digital Temperature Sensor Pressure Sensor Humidity Sensor

Camera Ceramic Heaters

Actual Mass 789 grams

Remaining Budget $0 (All went to

biology department)

Potential Application• Currently NASA has been conducting similar research into thepossibility of life from earth surviving in extraterrestrial environments.Recent theories speculate on the use of extremophiles as possibleorganisms for use on Mars. This idea is present throughout the article“Meet Conan the Bacterium Humble microbe could become TheAccidental (Space) Tourist” (http://scienence.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/1999/ast14decdec99_1/_). Further researchcan be found at “Exploratour: Life on Mars?” (http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/features/mars_life_feature1015.html) This offers an introduction into what conditions life wouldhave to undergo in order to sustain itself on the Martian surface.However, it does not simply say life would be on the surface, furtherreading shows life could survive underground where water andenergy may still be present (Mars Exploration Program (http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/progammissions/science/goal1/).

Initial Experiment Bio DNA Sequencing

Couldn’t look at all the DNA

Petri-Dish Size Had larger dishes

originally Found 60mm

dishes instead Spore forming

bacteria

Initial Experiment Tech Geiger counter

Too heavy UV sensor

Not proper wavelength Two Arduinos

Added too much mass

The Design Process

Final Design Our final design

was in concept similar to previous designs

The only major changes that were made were with sensors for the Arduino and in the end we flew two temp sensors, humidity sensor, accelerometer, and a pressure sensor.

Inside

Outside

Arduino and Heater Circuit

Testing PlanTest Purpose Description

Stair Test

Structural test that is an accurate portrayal of the impacts the satellites endure upon returning to the ground and being dragged through a field.

With mass simulators replacing the internal components of the satellite, it is taken to the top of a set of stairs and thrown down to test multiple impacts at random angles on the satellite.

Drop Test

Structural test to see if our construction holds up after payload is dropped from a height, simulating the impact the payload endures when returning to the ground.

Using mass simulators the satellite is taken to a high spot from which it will be dropped. Releasing the satellite from a balcony or window high off the ground will replicate the high speed it will be descending at and thus replicate the impact it will endure.

Whip Test

Confirm the strength of the tethering apparatus and that the satellite it will remain fixed and undamaged for the duration of the flight

Using mass simulators to replace the actual components of the satellite, a cord will be strung through the tethering apparatus and swung with a whipping motion. The forces induced on the satellite will be similar to those it will experience during the flight.

Cold Test

Test to ensure survivability of our payload, heaters, and media when exposed to extreme cold conditions, and to determine the best insulation for use in our final payload.

Using dry ice in a Styrofoam cooler to determine whether or not our heaters will withstand the temperatures we expect, and keep the heated side of our payload sufficiently from freezing. We will also be using the Arduino Uno and probe to determine differences in temperature within the payload to identify the most effective insulation for our final payload construction.

Testing Stair Test –

Passed Drop Test –

Passed Whip Test –

Passed Cold test –

Passed

Launch Day

Results Our camera stopped taking

pictures after about 30 min. Arduino ran for the entire mission

and gathered all our data.

Bacteria Results Both species of

bacteria were viable after exposure!

Further testing will determine if any differences can be found between the experimental and control groups.

Humidity

1 10 19 28 37 46 55 64 73 82 91 1001091181270

1020304050607080

Time (minutes)

Hum

idity

(RH

%)

Humidity

Pressure

1 7 13 19 25 31 37 43 49 55 61 67 73 79 85 91 97 10310911512112702468

101214

Time (minutes)

Pres

sure

(PSI

)

PRESSURE CHANGES DURING FLIGHT

Temperature

1 9 17 25 33 41 49 57 65 73 81 89 97 105113121

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

Inside

Outside

Time (minutes)

Tem

pera

ture

(°C

)

Flight Tempera-tures

Acceleration

1 8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57 64 71 78 85 92 99 106 113 120 127

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

X -axis (vertical)

Y-axis (horizon-tal)

Z-axis (horizon-tal)

Time (minutes)

Acce

lera

tion

(g )

Accelerometer values

Future Applications Knowing that these bacteria can survive

the harsh conditions we presented to them we can conclude that they may be capable of surviving on Mars. As we explore more and more of our solar system it is important to avoid cross contamination of other planets. We may bring life to a planet that didn’t have it before.

Questions?

References “Meet Conan the Bacterium Humble microbe could become

The Accidental (Space) Tourist” Science at NASA, Web, Dec 14, 1999, < http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/1999/ast14dec99_1/>

“Exploratour: Life on Mars?” Science at NASA, Web, Sept 15, 2003, <http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/features/mars_life_feature_1015.html>

“Earth Microbes on the Moon” Science at NASA, Web, Sept 1, 1998, <http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/1998/ast01sep98_1/). >

Endospore image: http://micro.cornell.edu/cals/micro/research/labs/angert-lab/bacterialendo.cfm