Expose-E – The Astrobiological Exposure Facility on ISS – from proposal to flight
- Paper number
IAC-08.A1.6.4
- Author
Dr. Elke Rabbow, DLR German Aerospace Center, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Andrea L'Afflitto, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Guenther Reitz, German Aerospace Center, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Corinna Panitz, RWTH Aachen, Germany
- Year
2008
- Abstract
A summary of the history, the realization phase, the experiments and the current status of the ESA built external facility EXPOSE for ISS and its scientific load is presented. EXPOSE is dedicated to expose samples of interdisciplinary and international astrobiological experiments to space conditions, in the pursuit to increase the knowledge on the origin and evolution of life within a planetary context. Originally designed to fly on the Truss structure of ISS. Today, two EXPOSE facilities exist, one – EXPOSE-R – scheduled to fly on the Russian Zvezda Module with 8 exobiological (ROSE) and 2 organic chemical experiments (1st Batch) in November this year, and EXPOSE-E, already launched and working nominally on the external balcony EuTEF of the Columbus Module with 5 astrobiological, including prebiotic organic chemical and 3 radiation measuring experiments (2nd Batch). EXPOSE has been developed for medium to long term flights of 1 to 3 years on the International Space Station. The facility is conceived to allow exposure of biological specimen and material samples whilst recording data on temperature and radiation. In EXPOSE-E, passive samples form bacterial spores, lichens, fungi to plant seeds, organic chemical compounds and radiation dosimeters for exposure to space environment and simulated Mars environment were integrated at DLR. The facility was closed with a variety of optical filters and windows, allowing the selection of UV-irradiation intensities and spectral ranges during its mission. A scientific active dosimeter was accommodated in addition to housekeeping sensors of EXPOSE-E itself. Together with the Columbus module and the second external platform, SOLAR, EXPOSE-E mounted onto the European Technological Exposure Facility on EuTEF was launched successfully on STS122 on February 7th for its 1 year mission. During the 3rd EVA, the external platform carrying EXPOSE-E was transported from the Atlantis Cargo Bay to its final destination outside on the Columbus module. One week later, a successful Check out commanded from MUSC at DLR showed good health of EXPOSE-E. The experimental phase of EXPOSE-E was started by opening valves and protecting lids by telecommand, thus exposing the samples of the 8 scientific groups to space and simulated Mars environment, during successful commissioning, also commanded from MUSC. With the activation of the Housekeeping sensors and the active experiment R3D, EXPOSE-E is fully operating, and telemetry running nominally.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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