Australian-led study shows bacteria can survive space launch, re-entry

Melbourne: An Australian led rocket test shows bacteria crucial for human health can survive the extreme forces of space launch and re entry, offering...

Melbourne: An Australian-led rocket test shows bacteria crucial for human health can survive the extreme forces of space launch and re-entry, offering hope for future Mars missions.

Space agencies are planning to send crews to Mars within decades but sustaining life on the red planet would be more difficult if important bacteria die during the flight.

Researchers sent spores of Bacillus subtilis, a microbe that supports immunity, gut health and circulation, to the edge of space aboard a rocket launched in Sweden, according to a statement released Monday by Australia's Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) which led the study.

The payload endured up to 13 g (g-force) acceleration, more than six minutes of microgravity, and re-entry forces of 30 g while spinning 220 times per second, the statement said.

When recovered, the spores showed no changes in their ability to grow and their structure stayed the same, indicating a key microbe for human health can survive the space journey, it said.