Studying Tardigrades as a Biological Payload Onboard a 3U Nanosatellite in Low Earth Orbit
- Paper number
IAC-15,A1,6,4,x31347
- Author
Dr. Ahmad Byagowi, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Ms. Viridiana Ureña Ramírez, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Mr. Pawal Glowacki, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Mr. Matthew Driedger, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Mr. Jose Juan Mijares Chan, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Ms. Chantelle Dubois, Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), Canada
- Coauthor
Mr. Robin Raju, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Mr. Greg Linton, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Mr. Emerich Kovacs III, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Mr. Mike Lambeta, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. Steve Whyard, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. Barbara Sharanowski, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. Carla Zelmer, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Prof. David Levin, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Coauthor
Prof. Witold Kinsner, University of Manitoba, Canada
- Year
2015
- Abstract
The University of Manitoba Space Applications and Technology Society (UMSATS) is currently developing a scientific payload to study the characteristics and survivability of an extremophile called the tardigrade in low Earth orbit (LEO). Tardigrades are microscopic metazoans that are able to convert into a cyptobiotic state in the absence of water and in such a state they can survive extreme environmental conditions. Tardigrades have also shown resilience against immense pressure and radiation doses up to six times more than what is lethal to humans. In 2007, the European Space Agency sent Tardigrades in their cryptobiotic state to space in LEO and returned them to Earth. The researchers on this project were able to re-animate the tardigrades by rehydrating them with water. Several other space related studies have been conducted on tardigrades on Earth and in space. However, to date, no study has been conducted to test and observe the characteristics and survivability of tardigrades that are re-animated in LEO after being exposed to the environmental conditions. A method has been implemented to study the tardigrades in LEO. This method involves the use of an onboard processing system which runs a set of algorithms to detect the motion of the tardigrades in a microecosystem consisting of bdelloid rotifers as food source and lichens as oxygen producers. The algorithms used to detect the tardigrades is based on the discrete cosine transform (DCT). The algorithms can detect if tardigrades are aggregated around the food source or if they are spread evenly throughout their living chamber therefore indicating presence of life. In order to increase the robustness of the detection algorithms, the tardigrades are genetically modified using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). EGFP will cause the tardigrades to fluoresce in the presence of ultra violet light and as a result they will be clearly distinguished from other organisms and debris.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-15,A1,6,4,x31347.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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