TY - JOUR
T1 - Supporting Mars exploration: BIOMEX in Low Earth Orbit and further astrobiological studies on the Moon using Raman and PanCam technology
AU - de Vera, Jean-Pierre
AU - Boettger, Ute
AU - de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa
AU - Sanchez, Francisco J.
AU - Grunow, Dana
AU - Schmitz, Nicole
AU - Lange, Caroline
AU - Huebers, Heinz-Wilhelm
AU - Billi, Daniela
AU - Baque, Mickael
AU - Rettberg, Petra
AU - Rabbow, Elke
AU - Reitz, Guenther
AU - Berger, Thomas
AU - Moeller, Ralf
AU - Bohmeier, Maria
AU - Horneck, Gerda
AU - Westall, Frances
AU - Jaenchen, Jochen
AU - Fritz, Joerg
AU - Meyer, Cornelia
AU - Onofri, Silvano
AU - Selbmann, Laura
AU - Zucconi, Laura
AU - Kozyrovska, Natalia
AU - Leya, Thomas
AU - Foing, Bernard
AU - Demets, Rene
AU - Cockell, Charles S.
AU - Bryce, Casey
AU - Wagner, Dirk
AU - Serrano, Paloma
AU - Edwards, Howell G. M.
AU - Joshi, Jasmin
AU - Huwe, Bjoern
AU - Ehrenfreund, Pascale
AU - Elsaesser, Andreas
AU - Ott, Sieglinde
AU - Meessen, Joachim
AU - Feyh, Nina
AU - Szewzyk, Ulrich
AU - Jaumann, Ralf
AU - Spohn, Tilman
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - The Low Earth Orbit (LEO) experiment Biology and Mars Experiment (BIOMEX) is an interdisciplinary and international space research project selected by ESA. The experiment will be accommodated on the space exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 on the International Space Station (ISS) and is foreseen to be launched in 2013. The prime objective of BIOMEX is to measure to what extent biomolecules, such as pigments and cellular components, are resistant to and able to maintain their stability under space and Mars-like conditions. The results of BIOMEX will be relevant for space proven biosignature definition and for building a biosignature data base (e.g. the proposed creation of an international Raman library). The library will be highly relevant for future space missions such as the search for life on Mars. The secondary scientific objective is to analyze to what extent terrestrial extremophiles are able to survive in space and to determine which interactions between biological samples and selected minerals (including terrestrial, Moon- and Mars analogs) can be observed under space and Mars-like conditions. In this context, the Moon will be an additional platform for performing similar experiments with negligible magnetic shielding and higher solar and galactic irradiation compared to LEO. Using the Moon as an additional astrobiological exposure platform to complement ongoing astrobiological LEO investigations could thus enhance the chances of detecting organic traces of life on Mars. We present a lunar lander mission with two related objectives: a lunar lander equipped with Raman and PanCam instruments which can analyze the lunar surface and survey an astrobiological exposure platform. This dual use of testing mission technology together with geo- and astrobiological analyses will significantly increase the science return, and support the human preparation objectives. It will provide knowledge about the Moon's surface itself and, in addition, monitor the stability of life-markers, such as cells, cell components and pigments, in an extraterrestrial environment with much closer radiation properties to the surface of Mars. The combination of a Raman data base of these data together with data from LEO and space simulation experiments, will lead to further progress on the analysis and interpretation of data that we will obtain from future Moon and Mars exploration missions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
AB - The Low Earth Orbit (LEO) experiment Biology and Mars Experiment (BIOMEX) is an interdisciplinary and international space research project selected by ESA. The experiment will be accommodated on the space exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 on the International Space Station (ISS) and is foreseen to be launched in 2013. The prime objective of BIOMEX is to measure to what extent biomolecules, such as pigments and cellular components, are resistant to and able to maintain their stability under space and Mars-like conditions. The results of BIOMEX will be relevant for space proven biosignature definition and for building a biosignature data base (e.g. the proposed creation of an international Raman library). The library will be highly relevant for future space missions such as the search for life on Mars. The secondary scientific objective is to analyze to what extent terrestrial extremophiles are able to survive in space and to determine which interactions between biological samples and selected minerals (including terrestrial, Moon- and Mars analogs) can be observed under space and Mars-like conditions. In this context, the Moon will be an additional platform for performing similar experiments with negligible magnetic shielding and higher solar and galactic irradiation compared to LEO. Using the Moon as an additional astrobiological exposure platform to complement ongoing astrobiological LEO investigations could thus enhance the chances of detecting organic traces of life on Mars. We present a lunar lander mission with two related objectives: a lunar lander equipped with Raman and PanCam instruments which can analyze the lunar surface and survey an astrobiological exposure platform. This dual use of testing mission technology together with geo- and astrobiological analyses will significantly increase the science return, and support the human preparation objectives. It will provide knowledge about the Moon's surface itself and, in addition, monitor the stability of life-markers, such as cells, cell components and pigments, in an extraterrestrial environment with much closer radiation properties to the surface of Mars. The combination of a Raman data base of these data together with data from LEO and space simulation experiments, will lead to further progress on the analysis and interpretation of data that we will obtain from future Moon and Mars exploration missions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KW - Moon
KW - Mars
KW - Low Earth Orbit
KW - Astrobiology
KW - Instrumentation
KW - Spectroscopy
KW - Biosignature
KW - BACILLUS-SUBTILIS
KW - METHANOGENIC ARCHAEA
KW - SIBERIAN PERMAFROST
KW - IONIZING-RADIATION
KW - SIMULATED SPACE
KW - OUTER-SPACE
KW - SURVIVAL
KW - LICHENS
KW - UV
KW - SPORES
U2 - 10.1016/j.pss.2012.06.010
DO - 10.1016/j.pss.2012.06.010
M3 - Article
VL - 74
SP - 103
EP - 110
JO - Planetary and space science
JF - Planetary and space science
SN - 0032-0633
IS - 1
T2 - Workshop on Scientific Preparations for Lunar Exploration
Y2 - 6 February 2012 through 7 February 2012
ER -