Howdy everyone,
Please join us for the next NASA OSDR Regolith Analysis Working Group meeting on Wednesday, July 15, from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CT / 9:00–10:00 a.m. PT / 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET.
Our featured speaker will be Dr. Laura Fackrell
Title: What Lives in Regolith Simulants? Historical Context and Implications for Astrobiology and Space Biology
Regolith simulants have evolved from early terrestrial analog materials used to interpret Apollo samples and test surface systems into increasingly specialized tools for lunar, Martian, and asteroid research. As their use expands into agriculture, life-support, and biological in-situ resource utilization, it is important to recognize that simulants are not biologically neutral: endogenous microbes introduced through source materials, processing, storage, and handling may alter experimental outcomes, while sterilization can be incomplete, impractical at scale, or change relevant physical and chemical properties. This talk reviews the history and changing purposes of regolith simulants and presents initial efforts using cultivation, DNA extraction, nanopore sequencing, and sterilization experiments to characterize their microbial communities and develop more reliable practices for biological research.
Join the meeting here:
We are also collecting ideas for future Regolith AWG projects and research directions. Please share the projects you would like to see the group pursue:
Those interested in presenting at a future meeting can sign up here:
We hope to see you there.