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Abstract EANA2026-243


Controlled Stratospheric Exposure of Biological Samples Using An Open/Closed Balloon Gondola Platform

Anna-Maria Wirth (1, 2), Florence Grant (2), Sara Lopez-Gomollon (2), Nigel Mason (2)
(1) Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom (2) University of Kent, United Kingdom


The Earth’s stratosphere is an accessible, natural analogue for near-space conditions, combining extreme hypobaria, low temperatures, intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and desiccation [1, 2]. These stressors make high-altitude balloon flights an invaluable and cost-effective platform for studying biological resilience under conditions analogous to those encountered in near-space and planetary environments [3, 4]. 

We present a modular balloon gondola system with open and closed exposure configurations to compare the responses of biological samples under direct stratospheric exposure versus more shielded conditions. Candidate samples include plant seeds (e.g. Camellia sinensis var.), desiccation-tolerant microorganisms (e.g. tardigrades), and selected organic materials (e.g. food matrices such as coffee or cacao). Compartments within the gondola are physically isolated, enabling parallel experiments with distinct environmental conditions. 

The platform incorporates altitude- and time-triggered opening and closing mechanisms, which allow for controlled exposure at specific mission phases rather than continuous flight-long exposure. This approach is designed to assess the effects of radiation, pressure, temperature and desiccation on biological survival and post-flight recovery. Two successful test flights have demonstrated the feasibility of altitude-dependent exposure and validated the system’s ability to maintain separate experimental environments within a single payload. 

Our future work will focus on expanding the biological sample sets, incorporating active environmental control (e.g. humidity regulation), and integrating additional sensor systems to monitor in-flight conditions at higher resolution. Planned experiments include systematic comparisons of open/closed exposure across multiple taxa, post-flight viability assays, and molecular characterization of stress responses. This approach aims to establish a flexible, reproducible platform for astrobiology-focused balloon missions and to support comparative studies of biological survival under near-space conditions.

 

References:

  1. Wang, Y., Jiang, Y., Sun, Z. & Wang, C. The Temperature-Controlled biological samples exposure payload(tc-biosep) for Balloon-Based astrobiology research. Microgravity science and technology 35, (2023).
  2. Smith, D. J. & Sowa, M. B. Ballooning for Biologists: Mission Essentials for Flying Life Science Experiments to Near Space on NASA Large Scientific Balloons. Gravitational and Space Research 5, 52–73 (2017).
  3. DasSarma, P. & DasSarma, S. Survival of microbes in Earth’s stratosphere. Current Opinion in Microbiology 43, 24–30 (2018).
  4. Molnárová, K. et al. Assessing the susceptibility of microalgae to space conditions using stratospheric balloons. Scientific Reports (2026)