Lichens, cyanobacteria and molds growing in humidity of simulated Martian atmosphere: Difference between revisions
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Lichens, cyanobacteria and molds growing in humidity of simulated Martian atmosphere (edit)
Revision as of 03:38, 23 September 2018
, 5 years ago→Lichens surviving in Mars surface conditions
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Most lichens do not survive prolonged exposure to Mars surface conditions. But an experiment simulating a Mars environment in a small chamber external to the ISS as part of [[EXPOSE#EXPOSE-E results|Expose-E]] in 2008-2009 showed that one lichen, Xanthoria elegans, retained a viability of 71% for the algae (photobiont) and 84% for the fungus (mycobiont) after 18 months inn Mars surface simulation conditions. Moreover, those surviving cells returned to 99% photosynthetic capabilities on return to Earth.
his greatly exceeded the post flight viability of any of the other organisms tested in the experiment. This was an experiment without the day night temperature cycles of Mars and the lichens were kept in a desiccated state so it didn't test their ability to survive in niche habitats on Mars.
==Lichens relying on 75% night time humidity to metabolize, photosynthesize, and develop new growth==
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