Aspergillus calidoustus and fungi survive space-like conditions, prompting protocol revisions
Updated
Updated · Scientific American · May 6
Aspergillus calidoustus and fungi survive space-like conditions, prompting protocol revisions
9 articles · Updated · Scientific American · May 6
The study found about two dozen strains from NASA spacecraft clean rooms, with A. calidoustus surviving vacuum, Mars-like conditions and heating to 125C.
Researchers and NASA officials say planetary protection must expand beyond bacteria-focused checks, using tools such as metagenomics to track microbial communities in clean rooms and future crewed spacecraft.
The findings raise concern that past missions may already have carried Earth microbes to Mars, as COSPAR guidelines under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty govern agencies and private missions.
As sterilization fails against fungi, how can we protect pristine ocean worlds like Europa and Enceladus?
Have our rovers already contaminated Mars with super-resilient fungi, jeopardizing the search for native life?
Are these hardy fungi just contaminants, or could they become essential tools for future space biomining?
Fungal Spores Outlast Spacecraft Sterilization: Implications for Mars Contamination and Crew Health
Overview
A 2026 study revealed that the fungus Aspergillus calidoustus, found in NASA spacecraft cleanrooms, can survive the extreme conditions of a Mars mission, including radiation, vacuum, and UV exposure. This discovery challenges the long-held belief that only bacterial spores pose contamination risks, exposing critical gaps in planetary protection protocols that focus mainly on bacteria. The fungus’s resilience and the limitations of current sterilization methods create risks of contaminating Mars, harming astronaut health, and damaging spacecraft. In response, NASA is developing new sterilization technologies and updating monitoring and international policies to better address fungal threats and ensure responsible space exploration.