[35]

Survivability of Bacillus subtilis Spores After Impact-Mediated Ejection from a Planet.  T.H. Kamine1, P. Fajardo-Cavazos2, Ph.D., and W. Nicholson2, Ph.D. 1Yale University, New Haven, CT 2University of Florida, Gainesville, FL /SLS Lab, Kennedy Space Center, FL

   This project tested the survivability of bacterial spores during the impact of a meteorite on a planet and ejection of part of the crust containing the organisms.  The impact was simulated using the 2-stage gas gun at NASA's Ames research center. A 1/4-inch aluminum sphere impacted a granite slab infused with Bacillus subtilis spores at 5.4 km/sec.  The spalled pieces were collected in layers of polyurethane foam, which were then examined for the presence of viable B. subtilis spores. Colonies were subjected to molecular fingerprinting by RAPD-PCR analysis to confirm their identity.  The results of this experiment indicate that the spores did survive the impact, and that those spores found were the ones placed on the granite and not contamination.

(Supported by NASA's 2004 Spaceflight and Life Sciences Training Program.)