An Astrobiology Small Payloads Demonstration NanoSatellite: Organism/ORganics Exposure to Orbital Stresses (O/OREOS)
- Paper number
IAC-10.A1.5.5
- Author
Dr. Catharine Conley, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States
- Coauthor
Prof. Pascale Ehrenfreund, Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Wayne Nicholson, University of Florida, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. David Squires, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Ames Research Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Orlando Santos, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Ames Research Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Antonio J. Ricco, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Richard Quinn, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Ames Research Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Andrew Mattioda, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Ames Research Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Rocco Mancinelli, SETI Institute, United States
- Year
2010
- Abstract
Astrobiology Small Payloads (ASP) is an element of NASA’s Astrobiology program, which funds the construction and launch of small (<5kg) satellites to perform automated research on subjects of relevance to Astrobiology. O/OREOS is a demonstration project that is intended to develop and demonstrate autonomous, in-situ biological organism and organic specimen exposure-and-detection technologies aboard free-flying nanosatellites in support of ASP objectives. The O/OREOS Sat mission is scheduled to launch in early summer 2010 from Kodiak, Alaska on a Minotaur IV rocket. O/OREOS Sat carries two experimental payloads exposed to the space environment: (i) dormant biological specimens and (ii) four types of reaction cells containing organic molecules. These experiments investigate the survival, adaptation, and biological evolution of life and the stability of organic material in space. The SESLO experiment involves launching dry Halorubrum chaoviatoris and Bacillus Subtilis spores, each as wild-type and mutant. During space flight, nutrient media will be added to sub-groups of organism-containing microwells at several timepoints over the 6-month course of the mission. Biological samples are monitored by time-resolved optical density and colorimetry of a metabolic indicator dye to quantitatively measure the effects upon biological organism survival, growth, and metabolism resulting from the combined exposure to ionizing space radiation and microgravity. The SEVO experiment exposes four classes of organic molecules to the space environment: amino acids, quinone, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metallo-porphyrin. One of each specimen will be maintained in each of four self-contained sample environments representing star-forming regions, airless bodies, Mars, and the bodies of the outer solar system. Changes in UV and visible absorption spectra will be used to measure quantitatively the effects of exposure to the full spectrum of space radiation, including solar UV and visible light, on organic specimens in several space environments. The recent explosion in nano-, micro-, and miniature technologies enables the development of remarkably capable autonomous instruments to accomplish remote autonomous experimentation. Small satellites provide an opportunity to address astrobiological questions, human exploration challenges, and planetary protection issues by accessing a range of relevant space environments.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-10.A1.5.5.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.