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1. Biosignature stability in space enables their use for life detection on Mars

Author

Baqué, Mickael, Backhaus, Theresa, Meeßen, Joachim, Hanke, Franziska, Böttger, Ute, Ramkissoon, Nisha, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Baumgärtner, Michael, Billi, Daniela, Cassaro, Alessia, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Demets, René, Edwards, Howell, Ehrenfreund, Pascale, Elsaesser, Andreas, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Rabbow, Elke, Rothschild, Lynn, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre P, Baqué, Mickael, Backhaus, Theresa, Meeßen, Joachim, Hanke, Franziska, Böttger, Ute, Ramkissoon, Nisha, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Baumgärtner, Michael, Billi, Daniela, Cassaro, Alessia, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Demets, René, Edwards, Howell, Ehrenfreund, Pascale, Elsaesser, Andreas, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Rabbow, Elke, Rothschild, Lynn, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Zucconi, Laura, and de Vera, Jean-Pierre P

Abstract

Two rover missions to Mars aim to detect biomolecules as a sign of extinct or extant life with, among other instruments, Raman spectrometers. However, there are many unknowns about the stability of Raman-detectable biomolecules in the martian environment, clouding the interpretation of the results. To quantify Raman-detectable biomolecule stability, we exposed seven biomolecules for 469 days to a simulated martian environment outside the International Space Station. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) strongly changed the Raman spectra signals, but only minor change was observed when samples were shielded from UVR. These findings provide support for Mars mission operations searching for biosignatures in the subsurface. This experiment demonstrates the detectability of biomolecules by Raman spectroscopy in Mars regolith analogs after space exposure and lays the groundwork for a consolidated space-proven database of spectroscopy biosignatures in targeted environments.

Published
2022
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2. Biosignature stability in space enables their use for life detection on Mars

Author

Baqué, Mickael, Backhaus, Theresa, Meeßen, Joachim, Hanke, Franziska, Böttger, Ute, Ramkissoon, Nisha, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Baumgärtner, Michael, Billi, Daniela, Cassaro, Alessia, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Demets, René, Edwards, Howell, Ehrenfreund, Pascale, Elsaesser, Andreas, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Rabbow, Elke, Rothschild, Lynn, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre P, Baqué, Mickael, Backhaus, Theresa, Meeßen, Joachim, Hanke, Franziska, Böttger, Ute, Ramkissoon, Nisha, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Baumgärtner, Michael, Billi, Daniela, Cassaro, Alessia, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Demets, René, Edwards, Howell, Ehrenfreund, Pascale, Elsaesser, Andreas, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Rabbow, Elke, Rothschild, Lynn, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Zucconi, Laura, and de Vera, Jean-Pierre P

Abstract

Two rover missions to Mars aim to detect biomolecules as a sign of extinct or extant life with, among other instruments, Raman spectrometers. However, there are many unknowns about the stability of Raman-detectable biomolecules in the martian environment, clouding the interpretation of the results. To quantify Raman-detectable biomolecule stability, we exposed seven biomolecules for 469 days to a simulated martian environment outside the International Space Station. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) strongly changed the Raman spectra signals, but only minor change was observed when samples were shielded from UVR. These findings provide support for Mars mission operations searching for biosignatures in the subsurface. This experiment demonstrates the detectability of biomolecules by Raman spectroscopy in Mars regolith analogs after space exposure and lays the groundwork for a consolidated space-proven database of spectroscopy biosignatures in targeted environments.

Published
2022
Full Text
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3. Biosignature stability in space enables their use for life detection on Mars

Author

Baqué, Mickael, Backhaus, Theresa, Meeßen, Joachim, Hanke, Franziska, Böttger, Ute, Ramkissoon, Nisha, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Baumgärtner, Michael, Billi, Daniela, Cassaro, Alessia, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Demets, René, Edwards, Howell, Ehrenfreund, Pascale, Elsaesser, Andreas, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Rabbow, Elke, Rothschild, Lynn, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre P, Baqué, Mickael, Backhaus, Theresa, Meeßen, Joachim, Hanke, Franziska, Böttger, Ute, Ramkissoon, Nisha, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Baumgärtner, Michael, Billi, Daniela, Cassaro, Alessia, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Demets, René, Edwards, Howell, Ehrenfreund, Pascale, Elsaesser, Andreas, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Rabbow, Elke, Rothschild, Lynn, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Zucconi, Laura, and de Vera, Jean-Pierre P

Abstract

Two rover missions to Mars aim to detect biomolecules as a sign of extinct or extant life with, among other instruments, Raman spectrometers. However, there are many unknowns about the stability of Raman-detectable biomolecules in the martian environment, clouding the interpretation of the results. To quantify Raman-detectable biomolecule stability, we exposed seven biomolecules for 469 days to a simulated martian environment outside the International Space Station. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) strongly changed the Raman spectra signals, but only minor change was observed when samples were shielded from UVR. These findings provide support for Mars mission operations searching for biosignatures in the subsurface. This experiment demonstrates the detectability of biomolecules by Raman spectroscopy in Mars regolith analogs after space exposure and lays the groundwork for a consolidated space-proven database of spectroscopy biosignatures in targeted environments.

Published
2022
Full Text
View/download PDF

4. Biosignature stability in space enables their use for life detection on Mars

Author

Baqué, Mickael, Backhaus, Theresa, Meeßen, Joachim, Hanke, Franziska, Böttger, Ute, Ramkissoon, Nisha, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Baumgärtner, Michael, Billi, Daniela, Cassaro, Alessia, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Demets, René, Edwards, Howell, Ehrenfreund, Pascale, Elsaesser, Andreas, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Rabbow, Elke, Rothschild, Lynn, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre P, Baqué, Mickael, Backhaus, Theresa, Meeßen, Joachim, Hanke, Franziska, Böttger, Ute, Ramkissoon, Nisha, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Baumgärtner, Michael, Billi, Daniela, Cassaro, Alessia, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Demets, René, Edwards, Howell, Ehrenfreund, Pascale, Elsaesser, Andreas, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Rabbow, Elke, Rothschild, Lynn, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Zucconi, Laura, and de Vera, Jean-Pierre P

Abstract

Two rover missions to Mars aim to detect biomolecules as a sign of extinct or extant life with, among other instruments, Raman spectrometers. However, there are many unknowns about the stability of Raman-detectable biomolecules in the martian environment, clouding the interpretation of the results. To quantify Raman-detectable biomolecule stability, we exposed seven biomolecules for 469 days to a simulated martian environment outside the International Space Station. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) strongly changed the Raman spectra signals, but only minor change was observed when samples were shielded from UVR. These findings provide support for Mars mission operations searching for biosignatures in the subsurface. This experiment demonstrates the detectability of biomolecules by Raman spectroscopy in Mars regolith analogs after space exposure and lays the groundwork for a consolidated space-proven database of spectroscopy biosignatures in targeted environments.

Published
2022
Full Text
View/download PDF

5. Biosignature stability in space enables their use for life detection on Mars

Author

Baqué, Mickael, Backhaus, Theresa, Meeßen, Joachim, Hanke, Franziska, Böttger, Ute, Ramkissoon, Nisha, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Baumgärtner, Michael, Billi, Daniela, Cassaro, Alessia, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Demets, René, Edwards, Howell, Ehrenfreund, Pascale, Elsaesser, Andreas, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Rabbow, Elke, Rothschild, Lynn, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre P, Baqué, Mickael, Backhaus, Theresa, Meeßen, Joachim, Hanke, Franziska, Böttger, Ute, Ramkissoon, Nisha, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Baumgärtner, Michael, Billi, Daniela, Cassaro, Alessia, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Demets, René, Edwards, Howell, Ehrenfreund, Pascale, Elsaesser, Andreas, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Rabbow, Elke, Rothschild, Lynn, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Zucconi, Laura, and de Vera, Jean-Pierre P

Abstract

Two rover missions to Mars aim to detect biomolecules as a sign of extinct or extant life with, among other instruments, Raman spectrometers. However, there are many unknowns about the stability of Raman-detectable biomolecules in the martian environment, clouding the interpretation of the results. To quantify Raman-detectable biomolecule stability, we exposed seven biomolecules for 469 days to a simulated martian environment outside the International Space Station. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) strongly changed the Raman spectra signals, but only minor change was observed when samples were shielded from UVR. These findings provide support for Mars mission operations searching for biosignatures in the subsurface. This experiment demonstrates the detectability of biomolecules by Raman spectroscopy in Mars regolith analogs after space exposure and lays the groundwork for a consolidated space-proven database of spectroscopy biosignatures in targeted environments.

Published
2022
Full Text
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6. Limits of Life and the Habitability of Mars : The ESA Space Experiment BIOMEX on the ISS

Author

de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baque, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Boettger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, Rene, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frederic, Fritz, Joerg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Huebers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Bjoern, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martinez-Frias, Jesus, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Guenther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Garcia Sancho, Leo, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baque, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Boettger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, Rene, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frederic, Fritz, Joerg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Huebers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Bjoern, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martinez-Frias, Jesus, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Guenther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Garcia Sancho, Leo, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, and Zucconi, Laura

Abstract

BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports-among others-the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit.

Published
2019
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7. Limits of Life and the Habitability of Mars : The ESA Space Experiment BIOMEX on the ISS

Author

de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baque, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Boettger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, Rene, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frederic, Fritz, Joerg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Huebers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Bjoern, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martinez-Frias, Jesus, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Guenther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Garcia Sancho, Leo, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baque, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Boettger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, Rene, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frederic, Fritz, Joerg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Huebers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Bjoern, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martinez-Frias, Jesus, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Guenther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Garcia Sancho, Leo, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, and Zucconi, Laura

Abstract

BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports-among others-the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit.

Published
2019
Full Text
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8. Limits of Life and the Habitability of Mars : The ESA Space Experiment BIOMEX on the ISS

Author

de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baque, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Boettger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, Rene, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frederic, Fritz, Joerg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Huebers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Bjoern, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martinez-Frias, Jesus, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Guenther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Garcia Sancho, Leo, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baque, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Boettger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, Rene, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frederic, Fritz, Joerg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Huebers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Bjoern, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martinez-Frias, Jesus, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Guenther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Garcia Sancho, Leo, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, and Zucconi, Laura

Abstract

BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports-among others-the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit.

Published
2019
Full Text
View/download PDF

9. Limits of Life and the Habitability of Mars : The ESA Space Experiment BIOMEX on the ISS

Author

de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baque, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Boettger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, Rene, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frederic, Fritz, Joerg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Huebers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Bjoern, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martinez-Frias, Jesus, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Guenther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Garcia Sancho, Leo, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baque, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Boettger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, Rene, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frederic, Fritz, Joerg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Huebers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Bjoern, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martinez-Frias, Jesus, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Guenther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Garcia Sancho, Leo, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, and Zucconi, Laura

Abstract

BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports-among others-the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit.

Published
2019
Full Text
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10. Limits of Life and the Habitability of Mars: The ESA Space Experiment BIOMEX on the ISS

Author

Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, German Centre for Air and Space Travel, Helmholtz Association, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Vera, Jean-Pierre de, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baqué, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Böttger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, René, De la Torre Noetzel, R., Edwards, H. G. M., Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Fritz, Jörg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martínez-Frías, J., Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Güenther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, García Sancho, Leopoldo, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, J., Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, Zucconi, Laura, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, German Centre for Air and Space Travel, Helmholtz Association, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Vera, Jean-Pierre de, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baqué, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Böttger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, René, De la Torre Noetzel, R., Edwards, H. G. M., Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Fritz, Jörg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martínez-Frías, J., Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Güenther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, García Sancho, Leopoldo, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, J., Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, and Zucconi, Laura

Abstract

BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports—among others—the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit.

Published
2019

11. Limits of Life and the Habitability of Mars : The ESA Space Experiment BIOMEX on the ISS

Author

de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baque, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Boettger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, Rene, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frederic, Fritz, Joerg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Huebers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Bjoern, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martinez-Frias, Jesus, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Guenther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Garcia Sancho, Leo, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baque, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Boettger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, Rene, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frederic, Fritz, Joerg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Huebers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Bjoern, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martinez-Frias, Jesus, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Guenther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Garcia Sancho, Leo, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, and Zucconi, Laura

Abstract

BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports-among others-the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit.

Published
2019
Full Text
View/download PDF

12. Survival of lichens on the ISS-II: ultrastructural and morphological changes of Circinaria gyrosa after space and Mars-like conditions

Author

De la Torre Noetzel, R., Miller, A. Z., Cubero, Beatriz, Sancho, Leopoldo G., Jordão, L., Rabbow, Elke, Meessen, Joachim, Vera, Jean-Pierre de, De la Torre Noetzel, R., Miller, A. Z., Cubero, Beatriz, Sancho, Leopoldo G., Jordão, L., Rabbow, Elke, Meessen, Joachim, and Vera, Jean-Pierre de

Abstract

Lichens are extremophile organisms, they live in the most extreme conditions, colonizing areas with extreme temperatures, high aridity condition and high UV-radiation. Therefore they have been by far the most successful settlers of the Antarctic continent. Also in the laboratory they survive temperatures near the absolute cero and absolute dryness without difficulty. Lichen species have distinct likes and dislikes when it come to the physico-chemical properties of the substrate while the group of lichens as a whole is pretty adaptable to various substrata (from rocks to glass). The main feature/aspect of their evolutionary/ecological success of this capacity is the close symbiotic relation between two organisms, a fungi and a cyanobacteria or an algae [1], allowing them to survive at real space [2] and at Mars conditions [3, 4, 5], such as that on the ISS. At the exposure platform EXPOSE-R2 on ISS (2014-2016), samples of the lichen species Circinaria gyrosa belonging to the BIOMEX experiment (Biology and Mars Experiment, ESA) [5], were exposed during 18 months to real space and to a Mars simulated environment to study Mars habitability and resistance to real space conditions. Also the identification of biomarkers was done to include them as reference for future space missions to Mars (Exo Mars). After the return of the mission at June 2016, the first preliminary analysis were performed, showing the metabolic activity a quick and complete recovery of the dark space control samples exposed to space vacuum and Mars-like atmosphere. In contrast, the samples directly exposed to space radiation showed slow recovery in reference to their observed original activity. Electron and fluorescence microscopy techniques also revealed that the viability of C. gyrosa exposed to space conditions decreased in comparison to those exposed to Mars-like environment. Moreover, differences were observed between samples positioned at level 1 and level 2. In general, TEM and FESEM observation

Published
2017

15. Limits of Life and the Habitability of Mars: The ESA Space Experiment BIOMEX on the ISS

Author

de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baqué, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Böttger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, René, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Fritz, Jörg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martínez-Frías, Jesús, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Günther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Sancho, Leo Garcia, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baqué, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Böttger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, René, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Fritz, Jörg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martínez-Frías, Jesús, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Günther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Sancho, Leo Garcia, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, and Zucconi, Laura

Abstract

BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports—among others—the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit.

16. Limits of Life and the Habitability of Mars: The ESA Space Experiment BIOMEX on the ISS

Author

de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baqué, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Böttger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, René, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Fritz, Jörg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martínez-Frías, Jesús, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Günther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Sancho, Leo Garcia, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre, Alawi, Mashal, Backhaus, Theresa, Baqué, Mickael, Billi, Daniela, Böttger, Ute, Berger, Thomas, Bohmeier, Maria, Cockell, Charles, Demets, René, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Edwards, Howell, Elsaesser, Andreas, Fagliarone, Claudia, Fiedler, Annelie, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Fritz, Jörg, Hanke, Franziska, Herzog, Thomas, Horneck, Gerda, Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Kruchten, Martha, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Leya, Thomas, Lorek, Andreas, Martínez-Frías, Jesús, Meessen, Joachim, Moritz, Sophie, Moeller, Ralf, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Podolich, Olga, Rabbow, Elke, Reitz, Günther, Rettberg, Petra, Reva, Oleg, Rothschild, Lynn, Sancho, Leo Garcia, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wadsworth, Jennifer, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Wolter, David, and Zucconi, Laura

Abstract

BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports—among others—the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit.

17. Biosignature stability in space enables their use for life detection on Mars

Author

Baqué, Mickael, Backhaus, Theresa, Meeßen, Joachim, Hanke, Franziska, Böttger, Ute, Ramkissoon, Nisha, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Baumgärtner, Michael, Billi, Daniela, Cassaro, Alessia, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Demets, René, Edwards, Howell, Ehrenfreund, Pascale, Elsaesser, Andreas, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Rabbow, Elke, Rothschild, Lynn, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Zucconi, Laura, de Vera, Jean-Pierre P., Baqué, Mickael, Backhaus, Theresa, Meeßen, Joachim, Hanke, Franziska, Böttger, Ute, Ramkissoon, Nisha, Olsson-Francis, Karen, Baumgärtner, Michael, Billi, Daniela, Cassaro, Alessia, de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa, Demets, René, Edwards, Howell, Ehrenfreund, Pascale, Elsaesser, Andreas, Foing, Bernard, Foucher, Frédéric, Huwe, Björn, Joshi, Jasmin, Kozyrovska, Natalia, Lasch, Peter, Lee, Natuschka, Leuko, Stefan, Onofri, Silvano, Ott, Sieglinde, Pacelli, Claudia, Rabbow, Elke, Rothschild, Lynn, Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Selbmann, Laura, Serrano, Paloma, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Verseux, Cyprien, Wagner, Dirk, Westall, Frances, Zucconi, Laura, and de Vera, Jean-Pierre P.

Abstract

Two rover missions to Mars aim to detect biomolecules as a sign of extinct or extant life with, among other instruments, Raman spectrometers. However, there are many unknowns about the stability of Raman-detectable biomolecules in the martian environment, clouding the interpretation of the results. To quantify Raman-detectable biomolecule stability, we exposed seven biomolecules for 469 days to a simulated martian environment outside the International Space Station. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) strongly changed the Raman spectra signals, but only minor change was observed when samples were shielded from UVR. These findings provide support for Mars mission operations searching for biosignatures in the subsurface. This experiment demonstrates the detectability of biomolecules by Raman spectroscopy in Mars regolith analogs after space exposure and lays the groundwork for a consolidated space-proven database of spectroscopy biosignatures in targeted environments.

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