‘Extreme’ Microbes Found Thriving Around NASA Mars Lander: Implications for Space Exploration and Biotechnology

Before NASA's Phoenix Mars lander embarked on its journey to the Red Planet in 2007, it spent time in a meticulously sterilized clean room. But a recent study reveals a surprising secret: this seemingly sterile environment harbored dozens of never-before-seen "extremophile" bacteria. These resilient microbes, some potentially capable of surviving the vacuum of space, were discovered in samples collected from the clean room, raising important questions about planetary protection and opening doors to exciting biotechnological possibilities.

The Phoenix Mars lander touched down on Mars on May 25, 2008, and operated for 161 days, gathering valuable data before going offline. The lander's time in the clean room at the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida was intended to prevent contamination of both the spacecraft and Mars itself. Clean rooms are designed to minimize microbial life, using sterilization, pressurization, and advanced air filtration systems. However, as the new study shows, these measures aren't foolproof.

Researchers reanalyzed samples taken from the Phoenix lander clean room and identified DNA from 26 novel species of bacteria. Published in the journal Microbiome, the study highlights the remarkable adaptability of these microbes.

Many of these newly described species possess genes that confer resistance to harsh environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures, pressures, and radiation levels. Some even exhibit genes associated with DNA repair, detoxification, and enhanced metabolism, suggesting a potential to survive the vacuum of space.

"Our study aimed to understand the risk of extremophiles being transferred in space missions and to identify which microorganisms might survive the harsh conditions of space," explained study co-author Alexandre Rosado from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. This research is crucial for monitoring microbial contamination and ensuring the integrity of planetary exploration efforts.

The discovery that a quarter of the species in the clean room were these novel extremophiles also signifies that spacecraft clean rooms themselves could be fertile ground for finding more of these resilient organisms.

Understanding these extremophiles can help researchers predict what potential extraterrestrial microbes might look like and how to prevent them from contaminating Earth.

Beyond planetary protection, the study points to intriguing biotechnological applications. Some of these microbes produce substances like biofilms, which have potential uses in medicine, food preservation, and other areas. Junia Schultz, a postdoctoral fellow at KAUST, noted that the genes identified in these bacteria could be engineered for various industrial uses.

Kasthuri Venkateswaran, a retired senior research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, emphasized the potential of these discoveries: "Together, we are unraveling the mysteries of microbes that withstand the extreme conditions of space — organisms with the potential to revolutionize the life sciences, bioengineering, and interplanetary exploration."

The finding of these resilient microbes in NASA's clean rooms underscores the persistent challenge of completely eliminating microbial life, highlights the adaptability of extremophiles, raises critical considerations for future space missions, and presents exciting opportunities for biotechnological innovation. What implications do you think these findings have for the search for life on other planets? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

• Extremophiles
• Mars Lander
• NASA