[GeronL]

Earth organisms that can survive space?

Do you really think those organisms can survive on Mars?

[DannyTN]

And it’s entirely possible Mars is already contaminated with microbes from the previous probes.

[fso301]

Earth organisms that can survive space?

Some bacteria are really tough. I the bacteria is embedded in a rock or chunk of ice I believe they can survive. However, I tend to doubt they could survive direct exposure to cosmic radiation.

Do you really think those organisms can survive on Mars?

My understanding is that on the surface of mars, it would be unlikely that bacteria could survive due to being bombarded by cosmic radiation. Below the surface, they could survive.

[verum ago]

Earth organisms that can survive space?

Do you really think those organisms can survive on Mars?

Yes, an yes, actually. Recent experiments have shown that some microbial communities adapted to low temperatures, high altitude, and living inside rocks can survive space exposure long enough to reach Mars- they were stuck outside the International Space Station for 1.5 years.

Even more impressive was an experiment earlier this year where a group took some high altitude lichens and exposed them to the surface conditions of Mars (atmospheric composition, atmospheric pressure, temperature, and radiation) for 34 days. The lichena survived in cracks and crevices and actually carried on photosynthesis just fine.

The research is done by Jean-Pierre Paul de Vera at the German Aerospace Center for Experimental Planetary physics.

Tardigrades (small animals) have been stuck out in space in experiments and survived too. Some organisms are incredibly tough.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Apollo 12 brought back microbes from a moon probe that had not only survived in space, but also on the lunar service.