2013 spring space grant: testing viability of bacteria at high altitude
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2013 Spring Space Grant: Testing Viability of bacteria at high altitude . Presented at the Colorado Undergraduate Space Research Symposium April 20, 2013 Aurora, CO Team Charlie: Aaron Bartelt Stacie Noetzelmann Philip Jurney Jeffrey Rascon - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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