SPECTROModule: A modular in-situ spectroscopy platform for exobiology and space sciences

Abstract

The evolution of the solar system and the origin of life remain some of the most intriguing questions for humankind. Addressing these questions experimentally is challenging due to the difficulty of mimicking environmental conditions representative for Early Earth and/or space conditions in general in ground-based laboratories. Performing experiments directly in space offers the great chance to overcome some of these obstacles and to possibly find answers to these questions. Exposure platforms in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with the possibility for long-duration solar exposure are ideal for investigating the effects of solar and cosmic radiation on various biological and non-biological samples. Up to now, the Exobiology and space science research community has successfully made use of the International Space Station (ISS) via the EXPOSE facility to expose samples to the space environment with subsequent analyses after return to Earth. The emerging small and nanosatellite market represents another opportunity for astrobiology research as proven by the robotic O/OREOS mission, where samples were monitored in-situ, i.e. in Earth orbit. In this framework, the European Space Agency is developing a novel Exobiology facility outside the ISS. The new platform, which can host up to four different experiments, will combine the advantages of the ISS (long-term exposure, sample return capability) with near-real-time in-situ monitoring of the chemical/biological evolution in space. In particular, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy were considered as key non-invasive methods to analyse the samples in situ. Changes in the absorption spectra of the samples developing over time will reveal the chemical consequences of exposure to solar radiation. Simultaneously, spectroscopy provides information on the growth rate or metabolic activities of biological cultures. The first quartet of experiments to be performed on-board consists of IceCold, OREOcube and Exocube (dual payload consisting of ExocubeChem and ExocubeBio). To prepare for the development of the Exobiology facility, ground units of the UV-Vis and IR spectrometers were studied, manufactured and tested as precursors of the flight units. The activity led to a modular in-situ spectroscopy platform able to perform different measurements (e.g. absorbance, optical density, fluorescence measurements) at the same time on different samples. We describe here the main features of the ground model platform, the verification steps, results and approach followed in the customization of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) modules to make them suitable for the space environment. The environmental tests included random and shock vibration, thermal vacuum cycles in the range −20°C to +40°C and irradiation of the components with a total dose of 1800 rad (18 Gy). The results of the test campaign consolidated the selection of the optical devices for the Exobiology Facility. The spectroscopic performance of the optical layout was tested and benchmarked in comparison with state-of-...

Investigation of fungal biomolecules after Low Earth Orbit exposure: a testbed for the next Moon missions

“…In fact, miniaturized UV–Vis spectrometers have been developed for free‐flying nanosatellites such as the O/OREOS satellite (Bramall et al ., 2012). Similarly, spectroscopic capability will be used in OREOcube devices, which will measure changes in organic samples when in contact with inorganic surfaces (Sgambati et al ., 2020).…”

Ion irradiation triggers the formation of the precursors of complex organics in space

“…Baratta et al 2015;Cottin et al 2017;Bryson et al 2015;Baratta et al 2019). The Organics Exposure in Orbit (OREOcube; Elsaesser et al 2014) and Exocube (Sgambati et al 2020) facilities will allow exposing various organic compounds of relevance for astrobiology as pure and in contact with mineral surfaces and gaseous compounds, allowing us to simulate the physico-chemical conditions of various astrophysical scenarios. Both platforms will allow the in situ analysis by means of UV-Visible (OREOcube) or mid-IR (Exocube) spectroscopy, allowing to monitor the sample evolution during flight.…”

The State of the Art of Information Integration in Space Applications

“…The concept of modularity is applicable to the development of any space system. For example, Sgambati et al [133] developed a modular in-situ spectroscopy platform where no-biological and biological samples were exposed to an in-situ environment, and the further investigation was carried out when the samples were returned to the earth to understand the impact of space environments on no-biological and biological objects.…”