![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/low-res-5.jpeg\" "\\"World\u2019s")
M15 59 sounding rocket on the assembly pad.\u00a0Gail Iles, RMIT<\/p>\nA \u201cworld\u2019s first study\u201d has demonstrated that bacterial spores can withstand the extreme forces associated with a space launch.<\/p>\n
Researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne have proved the resilience of Bacillus subtilis, a bacterium vital for human health.<\/p>\n
It confirms that this bacteria is tough enough to endure launch, brief microgravity, and re-entry phases.<\/p>\n
A major challenge for sustaining life on the Red Planet has been the unknown fate of vital bacteria during the long journey. This study alleviates those concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur research showed an important type of bacteria for our health can withstand rapid gravity changes, acceleration, and deacceleration,\u201d said Elena Ivanova, study co-author, in the press release on October 6.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s broadened our understanding of the effects of long-term spaceflight on microorganisms that live in our bodies and keep us healthy,\u201d Ivanova added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
M15 59 sounding rocket on the assembly pad.\u00a0Gail Iles, RMIT<\/p>\n
Importance of bacteria for long-term missions<\/p>\n
Humans have managed short stays in space since the 1970s<\/a>, but Mars is a completely different world.\u00a0<\/p>\n Microorganisms are hailed as a major biological support system to sustain healthy human life for a future Mars colony over decades.\u00a0<\/p>\n B. subtilis and similar bacteria<\/a> could help maintain the immune system, gut health, and blood circulation.<\/p>\n However, the key question has been whether beneficial bacteria can withstand the years-long, radiation-intensive journey through deep space.<\/p>\n This survival is threatened by intense space radiation<\/a> (Galactic Cosmic Rays and Solar Particle Events), which can damage microbial DNA. Furthermore, the microgravity may lead to behavioral changes in bacteria, which would be detrimental to astronaut health.<\/p>\n This new study is a positive step in understanding the survival of bacteria.\u00a0<\/p>\n For the study, spores of B. subtilis were launched to the edge of space aboard a sounding rocket.\u00a0<\/p>\n The bacteria\u2019s resilience was studied during a rapid ascent with forces up to 13g (13 times Earth\u2019s gravity).\u00a0The payload endured over six minutes of microgravity (weightlessness) at about 260 kilometers in the test.\u00a0<\/p>\n During the re-entry, the rocket faced extreme conditions, including deceleration forces of up to 30g upon re-entry, while simultaneously spinning about 220 times per second.<\/p>\n After all this time, the bacteria grew normally and maintained their original structure after the experiment. This short survival signals a promising future for astronaut health during extended space missions.<\/p>\n More experiments required <\/p>\n The study data could help develop better life support systems to keep astronauts healthy throughout long-duration missions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Moreover, the pharmaceutical companies can now use this baseline data to conduct life science experiments in microgravity.<\/p>\n \u201cBy ensuring these microbes can endure high acceleration, near-weightlessness, and rapid deceleration, we can better support astronauts\u2019 health and develop sustainable life support systems,\u201d said<\/a> RMIT space science expert Gail Iles.<\/p>\n The team highlights that knowing the limits of microbial survival<\/a> could spur biotechnology innovations on Earth.<\/p>\n For instance, acquiring more detailed data could help develop new antibacterial treatments and combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.<\/p>\n