Presenter Information
Rebecca McCallin: Biology
Madelyn Hoying - Team Lead, Physics and Biomedical Engineering
Alexander Evans: Biomedical Engineering
Matthew Nestler: Biomedical Engineering
Karli Rae Sutton: Biomedical Engineering
Garett Craig: Biomedical Engineering, Nursing
Lucia Secaida: Biomedical Engineering
Alexander Guy: Biomedical Engineering
Rachel Fernandez: Biomedical Engineering, Nursing
Amanda Trusiak: Biomedical Engineering
Paige Aley: Chemistry
Ingabire Gakwerere: Cybersecurity Studies
Nina Dorfner: Biomedical Engineering
Maria Mosbacher: Education
Mary Flavin: Media Studies, Journalism
Selvin Hernandez: Biomedical Engineering
Audrey Steen: Education, English
Benjamin Kazimer: Physics, Biomedical Engineering
Abstract
Project ALIEN is a comprehensive plan to send humans to Mars to look for life on the Martian surface while exploring the viability and adaptability of terrestrial microbes in Martian atmospheric conditions. ALIEN will use a ballistic capture trajectory to get to Mars and stay in aerostationary orbit for a 30-day surface mission, during which two surface crewmembers will perform a variety of experiments to achieve the mission’s goals of Martian microbial discovery within brines of the Gale Crater and terrestrial microbe adaptability and viability to Martian conditions. Experimentation is based on the presumption that Martian microbes are metabolically similar to terrestrial extremophiles.
Adaptability will be tested using terrestrial alkaliphiles B. Arsenicoselenatis, B. Selenitireducens and Alkalilimnicola Ehrlichii which thrive in environments of high salinity and anoxic conditions, and respire anaerobically in the presence of arsenic, selenium, and nitrogen compounds. During travel to Mars, microbes will experience steady growth condition changes to replicate Martian environmental conditions. Microbes will then be introduced to Martian soil and conditions and supplemented with respiratory facilitators which will be used to locate potential Martian microbes by indicating which electron donors are most effective for respiration. Samples of Martian brine will be exposed to arsenic and selenium compounds to trigger a respiratory response in Martian microbes. Those that initiate a response will be cryopreserved for transport back to Earth for further analysis.
After the surface mission, the two surface crewmembers will reunite with mission control in orbit around Mars and return to Earth via ballistic capture trajectory.
School
Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences; Rangos School of Health Sciences; McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts; School of Nursing; School of Education
Advisor
Dr. Melikhan Tanyeri
Submission Type
Paper
Publication Date
April 2021
Included in
Aeronautical Vehicles Commons, Bacteriology Commons, Biochemistry Commons, Biological Engineering Commons, Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology Commons, Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Engineering Commons, Propulsion and Power Commons, Space Vehicles Commons
Project ALIEN
Project ALIEN is a comprehensive plan to send humans to Mars to look for life on the Martian surface while exploring the viability and adaptability of terrestrial microbes in Martian atmospheric conditions. ALIEN will use a ballistic capture trajectory to get to Mars and stay in aerostationary orbit for a 30-day surface mission, during which two surface crewmembers will perform a variety of experiments to achieve the mission’s goals of Martian microbial discovery within brines of the Gale Crater and terrestrial microbe adaptability and viability to Martian conditions. Experimentation is based on the presumption that Martian microbes are metabolically similar to terrestrial extremophiles.
Adaptability will be tested using terrestrial alkaliphiles B. Arsenicoselenatis, B. Selenitireducens and Alkalilimnicola Ehrlichii which thrive in environments of high salinity and anoxic conditions, and respire anaerobically in the presence of arsenic, selenium, and nitrogen compounds. During travel to Mars, microbes will experience steady growth condition changes to replicate Martian environmental conditions. Microbes will then be introduced to Martian soil and conditions and supplemented with respiratory facilitators which will be used to locate potential Martian microbes by indicating which electron donors are most effective for respiration. Samples of Martian brine will be exposed to arsenic and selenium compounds to trigger a respiratory response in Martian microbes. Those that initiate a response will be cryopreserved for transport back to Earth for further analysis.
After the surface mission, the two surface crewmembers will reunite with mission control in orbit around Mars and return to Earth via ballistic capture trajectory.