Bio Chamber

Biological experiments on the survival of bacteria under proxy Martian conditions are carried out in a newly developed bio chamber.


Computer controlled incubative chamber for microbiological experiments		 Abiotic parameters such as pressure, temperature, gas composition and radiation are controlled, monitored and logged on a computer.

The chamber is about 40 cm in height and has a diameter of 36 cm. It is insulated by a double mantel through which a cooling liquid is passed. It is thus possible to cool the chamber down to about -60 ºC.

On top of the chamber there is a “feeding lock”, which can be evacuated and which allows the withdrawal and the addition of sample tubes without interrupting ongoing experiments. In addition, a quarts window is placed in the top plate through which UV light can expose the samples.


Bio chamber		 Inside the chamber there is a circular rack in which ten 30 cm long and 5 cm wide glass tubes can be placed. The glass tubes are used as experimental chambers in which soil samples can be incubated.

The rack is connected to a external motor, which rotates at an indicted speed. It can also bring each tube into a defined position and keep it there for a defined time interval. This is of special importance when the effect of UV radiation on microbial life is investigated.

The glass tubes are open on top and closed from below with a metal plunger containing a data logger. The data logger is connected to a thermosensor, which allows to follow and to continuously log the temperature in the soil sample during the experiment.