NASA Is Sending Bacteria into the Sky on Balloons during the Eclipse

[ghasemkiani]

During the next total solar eclipse, more than fifty high-altitude balloons in over twenty locations across the United States will soar up to as high as 100,000 feet in the sky. On the balloons, there will be Raspberry Pi cameras, weather sensors, and modems to stream the eclipse footage live. They’ll also have metal plates coated with very extremophile bacteria, because NASA wants to see if they will survive on Mars. The bacteria are a particular species, called Paenibacillus xerothermodurans.

The conditions in the upper part of the Earth stratosphere — above the ozone layer — is very much similar to the surface of Mars: it’s about minus 37 degrees Celsius, with very thin air, and it’s hammered by the Sun’s UV radiation.

Source: The Verge

Comments

[bohemian]

I searched and can't find anything out about the bacteria they are using Paenibacillus xerothermodurans , hopefully it doesn't make everyone sick while they stand outside and watch.

[ravivshachar]

hi @ghasemkiani
i cant see ur pics..why ..i want to see in the post but its not posibal but its very intresting and i enjoy reading it so thank you for your post and keep up the good work

[q-mast]

This sounds like a fun little experiment.