Exposing Microorganisms in the Stratosphere

Exposing Microorganisms in the Stratosphere (E-MIST) is a NASA study to determine if a specific microorganism could survive conditions like those on the planet Mars. The study transported Bacillus pumilus bacteria and their spores by helium-filled balloon to the stratosphere of Earth (~31 km above sea level) and monitored the ability of the microorganisms to survive in extreme Martian-like conditions such as low pressure, dryness, cold, and ionizing radiation.[1]

A test flight of the balloon and gondola was launched from New Mexico on 24 August 2014. A second, longer flight, took place on 10 October 2015.[2]

  1. ^ Figliozzi, Gianine M.; Walter, Daryl (25 September 2015). "Hitchhiking to Mars". NASA. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Khodadad 2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).