|
 | | Mars Simulation Chamber (MSC) | | |
The MSC is a stainless steel low-pressure cylindrical chamber with internal dimensions measuring 70 cm long by 50 cm in diameter. Atmospheric pressure
and composition within the MSC, UV irradiation, and temperatures of the microbial samples will be controlled independently. Two, 1000 W xenon-arc lamps
can be mounted on the outside of the MSC, so that the UV-VIS-NIR irradiation can be directed to shine inside the MSC through fused-silica glass ports
 |
| Image above: A picture of the Mars Simulation Chamber. |
on top of the chamber (only one is shown here). Gas composition inside the MSC will be determined by injecting commercially obtained gases into the
chamber through a mass-flow controller (not shown). The MSC system is designed to accurately hold pressure to within 1 mb at any set-point from 10 to
1013 mb, and within 0.1 mb for setpoint pressures between 1 and 10 mb. The liquid nitrogen (LN2) thermal control system will be placed on top of the
shelf within the MSC (upon which these samples are currently sitting). The LN2 system connects to the ports on the back inside bulkhead of the MSC
(lower image). The UV-VIS-NIR irradiation will be adjusted to deliver a Mars-normal fluence rate and spectrum at the upper surface of the LN2 thermal
control system. The side ports on the MSC will be used for inserting any tubing and wiring required for operating specialized equipment and internal
sensors. The vacuum pumping and control systems are connected to the MSC at the bottom of the chamber. The bottom image shows the approximate size of
the Mars UV illuminated area. The ports on the top and offset 30-degrees to the right of the top ports are sealed with fused silica glass windows.
Laboratory Services
- Full simulations of Martian conditions including: (1) pressure down to 0.1 mb, (temperature range -100 to +200 C); (3) gas composition (as desired), and (4) UV and VIS light (200 to 900 nm).
- LN2 thermal control system is fully programmable to simulate diurnal changes in surface temperatures on Mars.
- The Mars Simulation Chamber is designed to accommodate (1) microbiology, (2) planetary geology, and (3) plant biology experiments under reduced pressures.
- The Mars Simulation Chamber is also designed to accommodate the use of C14-labeled compounds.
Laboratory Assets & Specialized Equipment
- Mars Simulation Chamber, as described above.
- High-resolution UV and VIS spectrometers to measure and calibrate the UV-VIS light spectrum present on Mars.
- High-resolution digital camera system with multispectral imaging capabilities.
- Microbiological incubators with standard operating ranges of 0 to 80 C.
- Calibrated UV and VIS illumination systems for creating Mars-normal surface illumination
Recent Achievements
- Many common spacecraft contaminants of spacecraft cannot grow at simulated Martian pressures approaching 7 mb. Bacterial growth occurred only at pressures of 25 mb or above.
- Most spacecraft contaminants will be sterilized on sun-exposed surfaces within a few tens of minutes on Mars due to the very high UV fluence rates.
- Mars pressure (7 mb) has only a slight effect on reducing the number of viable bacteria found on spacecraft surfaces.
- Polymer spacecraft materials can induce the aggregation of bacterial cells, and, thus, may increase the survival rates of bacteria on Mars by creating multi-layered colonies of bacterial cells.
|
