Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Jan 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004adspr..33.1294r&link_type=abstract
Advances in Space Research, Volume 33, Issue 8, p. 1294-1301.
Mathematics
Logic
10
Astrobiology, Biological Space Experiments, Simulation Of Martian Conditions, Uv Radiation And Martian Soil Analogues, Mars
Scientific paper
The survivability of resistant terrestrial microbes, bacterial spores of Bacillus subtilis, was investigated in the BIOPAN facility of the European Space Agency onboard of Russian Earth-orbiting FOTON satellites (BIOPAN I -III missions). The spores were exposed to different subsets of the extreme environmental parameters in space (vacuum, extraterrestrial solar UV, shielding by protecting materials like artificial meteorites). The results of the three space experiments confirmed the deleterious effects of extraterrestrial solar UV radiation which, in contrast to the UV radiation reaching the surface of the Earth, also contains the very energy-rich, short wavelength UVB and UVC radiation. Thin layers of clay, rock or meteorite material were shown to be only successful in UV-shielding, if they are in direct contact with the spores. On Mars the UV radiation climate is similar to that of the early Earth before the development of a protective ozone layer in the atmosphere by the appearance of the first aerobic photosynthetic bacteria. The interference of Martian soil components and the intense and nearly unfiltered Martian solar UV radiation with spores of B. subtilis will be tested with a new BIOPAN experiment, MARSTOX. Different types of Mars soil analogues will be used to determine on one hand their potential toxicity alone or in combination with solar UV (phototoxicity) and on the other hand their UV protection capability. Two sets of samples will be placed under different cut-off filters used to simulate the UV radiation climate of Mars and Earth. After exposure in space the survival of and mutation induction in the spores will be analyzed at the DLR, together with parallel samples from the corresponding ground control experiment performed in the laboratory. This experiment will provide new insights into the principal limits of life and its adaptation to environmental extremes on Earth or other planets which and will also have implications for the potential for the evolution and distribution of life.
Horneck Gerda
Panitz Corinna
Rabbow Elke
Rettberg Petra
No associations
LandOfFree
Biological space experiments for the simulation of Martian conditions: UV radiation and Martian soil analogues does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Biological space experiments for the simulation of Martian conditions: UV radiation and Martian soil analogues, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Biological space experiments for the simulation of Martian conditions: UV radiation and Martian soil analogues will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1837606