Primary experiments O/OREOS

1 primary experiments

1.1 space environment survivability of live organisms

1.1.1 results


1.2 space environment viability of organics

1.2.1 results

primary experiments

the goals of o/oreos mission include:

demonstrating key small satellite technologies can enable future low-cost astrobiology experiment.
deploying miniature uv/vis/nir spectrometer suitable in-situ astrobiology , other scientific investigations.
testing capability establish variety of experimental reaction conditions enable study of astrobiological processes on small satellites.
measuring chemical evolution of organic molecules in leo under conditions can extrapolated interstellar , planetary environments.

space environment survivability of live organisms

the o/oreos space environment survivability of live organisms (seslo) experiment characterize growth, activity, health , ability of microorganisms adapt stresses of space environment. experiment sealed in vessel @ 1 atmosphere , contains 2 types of bacteria commonly found in salt ponds , soil: halorubrum chaoviatoris, thrives in sort of briny water may exist below surface of mars or on jupiter s moon europa, , bacillus subtilis, holds record surviving in space longest duration (6 years on nasa satellite). bacteria launched dried spores , revived @ different times during mission nutrient-filled fluid few days, 3 months , 6 months after launch.

once satellite in orbit, bacteria being exposed low earth orbit radiation while floating in micro-gravity. seslo experiment measures microbes population density. there expected change in color dyed liquid nutrients consumed , metabolized microorganisms. color change used determine effects of combined exposure space radiation , microgravity on organism growth, health, , survival when compared ground-based control experiment.

results

the seslo experiment measured long-term survival, germination, , growth responses, including metabolic activity.

space environment viability of organics

the o/oreos space environment viability of organics (sevo) experiment monitor stability , changes in 4 classes organic matter exposed space conditions. scientists selected organic samples represent building blocks of life , abundant aromatic molecules, think distributed throughout milky way galaxy.

the controlled environments in sevo reaction cells not accurately represent natural environments; rather, used establish set of initial conditions chemical reactants involved in photochemical experiments. these reactants chosen because can related fundamental processes believed occur in planetary surface environments, comets, , interstellar medium. such, each of different cell types chosen simulate important aspects of astrobiologically relevant environments.

four classes of organic compounds, namely amino acid, quinone, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (pah) , metallo-porphyrin being studied. compounds placed in 4 different micro-environments simulate conditions in interplanetary space, on moon, on mars , in outer solar system. experiment continuously exposes organic matter radiation in form of solar ultraviolet (uv) light, visible light, trapped-particle , cosmic radiation on 6 months in space. scientists determine stability of organic matter studying in-situ changes in uv, visible , near-infrared light absorption through daily measurements. survival rate of these molecules determine whether of earth s biochemistry might have been performed in space , later delivered meteorites. data may in deciding molecules biomarkers can signal existence of past or present life on world.

results

spectra pah thin film in water-vapor-containing microenvironment indicate measurable change due solar irradiation in orbit, while 3 other nominally water-free microenvironments show no appreciable change. quinone anthrarufin showed high photostability , no significant spectroscopically measurable change in of 4 microenvironments during same period.