Dr. Andrew Schuerger is a scientist who studies how Earth bacteria might survive and grow on Mars. He designed this chamber to simulate the surface environment of the red planet. So far, the thirty different types of bacteria he has studied don’t grow under Martian conditions. 

Is this true for all Earth bacteria? Not necessarily, but it appears to be very difficult for microbes to grow and replicate on Mars. Why? The main reasons are because the air pressure is so low (less than 1% of Earth’s), there is no liquid water on the Martian surface, and they’re damaged by the ultraviolet (UV) radiation that comes from the sun.

He will be studying additional types of bacteria in the months ahead as well as other Earth microorganisms like fungi, algae, and yeasts. New research results will be posted on this web site. Dr. Schuerger is a University of Florida research scientist whose lab is located at the Kennedy Space Center.
Mars Chamber
The Mars Simulation Chamber
Click on this link to open up a new window with a NASA article about Dr. Schuerger’s research on “space hitchhikers.”
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