The past, present and future of Biopan

Demets, R.; Schulte, Wolfgang; Baglioni, P.

doi:10.1016/j.asr.2005.07.005

Cited by 53 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The majority of experiments on microorganisms in space were performed using Earth-orbiting robotic spacecraft, e.g., the Russian Foton satellites (50) and the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) (121), or human-tended spacecraft, such as space shuttles (106,107) and space stations, e.g., MIR (220) and the International Space Station (ISS) (6). Only twice, during translunar trips of Apollo 16 and 17 in the early 1970s, were microorganisms exposed to space conditions beyond Earth's magnetic shield, in the MEED (microbial ecology equipment device) facility and in the Biostack experiments (reviewed in reference 244).…”

Section: Space Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space Microbiology

Horneck

Klaus

Mancinelli

2010

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

557

489

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SUMMARY The responses of microorganisms (viruses, bacterial cells, bacterial and fungal spores, and lichens) to selected factors of space (microgravity, galactic cosmic radiation, solar UV radiation, and space vacuum) were determined in space and laboratory simulation experiments. In general, microorganisms tend to thrive in the space flight environment in terms of enhanced growth parameters and a demonstrated ability to proliferate in the presence of normally inhibitory levels of antibiotics. The mechanisms responsible for the observed biological responses, however, are not yet fully understood. A hypothesized interaction of microgravity with radiation-induced DNA repair processes was experimentally refuted. The survival of microorganisms in outer space was investigated to tackle questions on the upper boundary of the biosphere and on the likelihood of interplanetary transport of microorganisms. It was found that extraterrestrial solar UV radiation was the most deleterious factor of space. Among all organisms tested, only lichens (Rhizocarpon geographicum and Xanthoria elegans) maintained full viability after 2 weeks in outer space, whereas all other test systems were inactivated by orders of magnitude. Using optical filters and spores of Bacillus subtilis as a biological UV dosimeter, it was found that the current ozone layer reduces the biological effectiveness of solar UV by 3 orders of magnitude. If shielded against solar UV, spores of B. subtilis were capable of surviving in space for up to 6 years, especially if embedded in clay or meteorite powder (artificial meteorites). The data support the likelihood of interplanetary transfer of microorganisms within meteorites, the so-called lithopanspermia hypothesis.

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Section: Space Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space Microbiology

Horneck

Klaus

Mancinelli

2010

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

557

489

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“…Five short-duration missions (two weeks) were performed using the Russian Foton spacecraft carrying the European Space Agency (ESA) BIOPAN facility [3]. More recently another ESA facility, called EXPOSE, has provided a long-duration exposure platform (1.5 years) on the International Space Station (ISS), which provides a complete laboratory orbiting Earth at about 400 km [4,5].…”

Section: Desert Cyanobacteria and Astrobiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyanobacteria from Extreme Deserts to Space

Billi¹,

Baqué²,

Smith³

et al. 2013

AiM

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The development of space technology makes the exposure of organisms and molecules to the space environment possible by using the ESA Biopan and Expose facilities and NASA nanosatellites; the aim is to decipher the origin, evolution and distribution of life on Earth and in the Universe. The study of microbial communities thriving in lithic habitats in cold and hot deserts is gathering appreciation when dealing with the limits of life as we know it, the identification of biosignatures for searching life beyond Earth and the validation of the (litho)-Panspermia theory. Cyanobacteria of the genus Chroococcidiopsis dominate rock-dwelling communities in extreme deserts that are considered terrestrial analogues of Mars, like the Dry Valleys in Antarctica, the Atacama Desert in Chile or the Mojave Desert in California. The extraordinary tolerance of these cyanobacteria towards desiccation, ionizing and UV radiation makes them suitable experimental strains which have been already used in astrobiological experiments and already selected for future space missions. Evidence gained so far supports the use of desert cyanobacteria to develop life support systems and in-situ resource utilization for the human space exploration and settlement on the Moon or Mars.

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“…Frequent opportunities for short-duration exposure experiments (up to 15 days) of molecules and biological systems were provided by ESA's Biopan facilities, cylindrical pan-shaped containers with a deployable lid mounted on the outer surface of the descent module of a Russian Foton satellite (Fig. 4) (Demets et al 2005). The Foton satellite was Exposure Facilities, Fig.…”

Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

E

2015

Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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DefinitionThe Earth is the planet on which we live. It is the third planet from the Sun and one of the telluric (small and rocky) planets of our ▶ Solar System. It has a mean radius of 6,371 km and a mean density of 5.515 g cm À3 . It is distinguished from other planets by the presence of ▶ continental crust, oceans, and ▶ life. Its unusually large core and satellite (the Moon) are believed to result from the collision of a Mars-sized body (protoplanet ▶ Theia) about 4.45 Ga ago.

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The past, present and future of Biopan

Cited by 53 publications

References 4 publications

Space Microbiology

Space Microbiology

Cyanobacteria from Extreme Deserts to Space

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