Survival of bacterial spores under some simulated lunar surface conditions.

Spores of Bacillus subtilis were exposed to simulated lunar environmental factors, in order to estimate the chance of living matter to survive on the moon. Vacuum, radiation and extreme temperature were selected and their individual and combined influence was tested. High vacuum up to 2 x 10(-7) torr and ultra-high vacuum up to 5 x 10(-9) torr, ultraviolet rays (254 nm) and a temperature of 80 degrees C were used. The results were compared with those of experiments on vegetative cells.