Evolution of organic matter studied on the Expose facility onboard ISS
- Paper number
IAC-08.A1.6.6
- Author
Prof. Pascale Ehrenfreund, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Dr. Zan Peeters, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Prof. Bernard Foing, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Prof. Elmar Jessberger, Institute fuer Planetologie, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Farid Salama, NASA Ames Research Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Mike Mumma, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Francois Robert, Museum National Histoire Naturelle, France
- Year
2008
- Abstract
The Organics experiment will be integrated in fall 2008 into the multi-user facility EXPOSE mounted on the International Space Station ISS that contains experiments dedicated to Astrobiology. A testflight investigation on Biopan V was completed successfully in 2005. The Organics experiment will monitor the chemical evolution, survival, destruction and chemical modification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), fullerenes and macromolecules in space environment. PAHs are highly abundant and ubiquitous compounds in the interstellar medium. The spontaneous formation and stability of fullerene compounds have suggested their existence in space in relation to carbon dust. Macromolecular networks make up the majority of meteoritic organic matter and carbonaceous dust grains in interstellar and interplanetary space. Samples are deposited in thin (~few hundred nm) films by sublimation on MgF2 windows inside the sample cells. Dark samples are shielded from the UV photons and enable us to discriminate between the effects of exposure to photons and cosmic rays. The experimental trays will remain at least one year on-board the International Space Station before they are returned to Earth. The samples will be analyzed before and after exposure to space environment with UV, visible and infrared spectroscopy and chemical analytical techniques. From the results we shall determine constraints on the photochemistry of these compounds in the interstellar medium. Since PAHs, fullerenes and macromolecules are also present in meteorites, the obtained data are most relevant for the reconstruction of events in the early Solar System.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.A1.6.6.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.