[meteorite-list] Extremobacteria

From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:11:50 -0500
Message-ID: <E5C7232E7A014EC68630DF6A06C11666_at_ATARIENGINE2>

Hi, Gang,

First, it was Streptococci -- bacteria, not viruses --
that were found in the Surveyor camera body.
They were discovered, needless to say, after pieces
were returned to Earth.

That raised the question of contamination in the
Receiving lab. Much was made of it at the time,
but after much review of the evidence and the
circumstances, the possibilities are as follows.

1. The camera was contaminated before it went
to the Moon. Surveyor scientists discovered a
breach of sterile procedure in the preparation
of the comers, they say, so the microbes could
have gone to the Moon and survived two years.

2. The astronauts brought it back in a nylon
duffel bag (like old socks); it was not sterile
sealed, so could have been contaminated while
being returned.

3. We'll never know because the camera was
put on public display and is now hopelessly
contaminated. We can't test again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reports_of_Streptococcus_mitis_on_the_moon

That said, I have no doubt that Deinococci
and the Rubrobacter genus of Actinobacteria
could survive any amount of cosmic radiation.

It's why they call them "extremophiles." They
just eat it up.

And, remember, Google is your friend...


Sterling K. Webb
------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Becky and Kirk" <bandk at chorus.net>
To: <GeoZay at aol.com>; <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 8:42 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Extremobacteria


> Thanks Geo,
> Finally----I was waiting for someone else to bring this up. This was
> documented YEARS ago too obviously. I believe in was the crew from
> Apollo 12 that brought it back.
>
> I think everyone has their proof right there. The virus survived no
> problem---on the Moon-----and in the vacuum of space....:-)
>
> Best,
> Kirk......
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <GeoZay at aol.com>
> To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 8:34 AM
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Extremobacteria
>
>
>>
>>
>>>>My only problem with it is we are
>> talking low earth orbit not the far reaches of the solar system, I'd
>> like to see them survive away from the protection of the earth's mag
>> field before I get too excited...<<
>>
>> I would like to agree with you here, but to be honest, I believe it
>> was
>> the surveyer moon probe that sat on the moon for a few years before
>> an Apollo
>> manned moon landing happened nearby. The astronauts removed
>> surveyors
>> camera and brought it back and virus that was attached to the
>> insides of the
>> camera were revived.
>> GeoZay
>>
>> ______________________________________________
>> Visit the Archives at
>> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
>> Meteorite-list mailing list
>> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>
> ______________________________________________
> Visit the Archives at
> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Received on Tue 24 Aug 2010 02:11:50 PM PDT