Exocube: A miniaturised in-situ space laboratory for astrobiological exposure experiments on the International Space Station.
- Paper number
IAC-18,A1,6,3,x44382
- Author
Dr. Andreas Elsaesser, Germany, Free University of Berlin
- Coauthor
Dr. Amedea Perfumo, Germany, Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam
- Coauthor
Dr. Andrew Mattioda, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Ames Research Center
- Coauthor
Dr. Antonio J Ricco, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Coauthor
Prof. Christophe Danelon, The Netherlands, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
- Coauthor
Prof. Dirk Wagner, Germany, Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam
- Coauthor
Dr. Farid Salama, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Ames Research Center
- Coauthor
Prof. Francesco Canganella, Italy, Università degli Studi della Tuscia
- Coauthor
Prof. Hans-Gerd Löhmannsröben, Germany, Potsdam University
- Coauthor
Prof. Harold Linnartz, The Netherlands, University of Leiden
- Coauthor
Prof. Renato Fani, Italy, Università degli Studi di Firenze (UniFI)
- Coauthor
Dr. Richard Quinn, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Ames Research Center
- Coauthor
Dr. Victor Parro, Spain, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC)
- Coauthor
Dr. Wayne Nicholson, United States, University of Florida
- Coauthor
Dr. Zita Martins, Portugal, Instituto Superior Técnico
- Year
2018
- Abstract
The influence of space and planetary conditions on organic molecules, biological supramolecular structures, and living organisms is of prime interest in the field of astrobiology. Experimentally, space and planetary conditions are not easily accessible in ground-based laboratories. This especially holds true for space radiation and microgravity. Therefore, performing experiments directly in space allows exposure to real microgravity and overcomes the technical challenge of trying to simulate solar and cosmic radiation on Earth. The Exocube space exposure platform is currently being developed by the European Space Agency as part of a new European Space Exposure Platform for the International Space Station. Exocube will be equipped with a miniaturized Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and a system of LEDs and photodiodes for colorimetric and fluorescent spectrophotometry. One of the main questions Exocube will address is how life at different stages of complexity responds to, and evolves in space and planetary conditions and what biomolecular mechanisms come into play at the interface between biology and physics. Exocube is aiming to address these questions with far reaching implications for the interpretation of the results of past and upcoming planetary exploration missions. Exocube is part of a new generation of space exposure experiments able to monitor experimental parameters \textit{in-situ} via spectroscopic instrumentation. While leveraging existing cubesat technology from the O/OREOS satellite, Exocube is pushing forward the design and development of \textit{in-situ} experiments for astrobiology in space. On Exocube, it will be possible to expose living organisms not only to cosmic but also to solar radiation whereas photochemical reactions of organic molecules can be interrogated via infrared spectroscopy. Experiments on Exocube range from exposure of biogenic molecules and protocellular structures to living prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. Well-characterised samples will be exposed to radiation levels in low Earth orbit and microgravity in order to measure \textit{in-situ} molecular stability via vibrational spectroscopy and biological response via reporter dyes. This will allow us to study in detail the bio-molecular pathways triggered by radiation events and microgravity, and will help to identify key molecules and components, which are involved in the adaptation of these organisms to space conditions. Outcomes from the Exocube project will support current and upcoming ESA/NASA planetary and space exploration missions (e.g. ExoMars, Mars2020, JUICE) addressing key questions in the area of radiation biology, planetary protection, biomarker stability, life-detection on other planets and biotechnologies for life-support systems.- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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