Lifeforms Can Survive on ‘Significant’ Regions of the Moon, Study Finds
A NASA-led study found microbes like Aspergillus could survive up to seven days in permanently shadowed lunar polar regions.
A study published in Science Advances modeled surface conditions at candidate Artemis landing sites and found significant lunar polar areas may be amenable to microbial survival. The fungus Aspergillus persisted up to seven Earth days in some shadowed regions due to protective pigments and thick cell walls. Findings inform planetary protection planning for upcoming crewed lunar missions.
- Aspergillus survived modeled lunar conditions for up to seven days
- Study used Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter remote-sensing data
- Findings inform planetary protection for Artemis missions
- Products
- Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
- Organizations
- NASAGoddard Space Flight Center
From the original article
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Subscribe to 404 Media to get The Abstract , our newsletter about the most exciting and mind-boggling science news and studies of the week. Microbes from Earth could survive on parts of the Moon for at least a week, a discovery that suggests that the lunar surface is not as hostile as previously assumed and has implications for upcoming human missions, reports a study published on Wednesday in Sciences Advances .
By Becky Ferreira · 404media.co
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