Space Environments Working Group

Transcription

1 Space Environments Working Group September 2011: UK Space Agency commissions Microgravity working group, primarily charged with examining the scientific + economic potential of: a) microgravity (and space-analogue) research in general and b) UK membership of ELIPS October 2011: First meeting of the working group. Change of name to Space Environments Working Group agreed encompasses use of all space and space-analogue conditions, not just microgravity June 2012: Inaugural UK Space Environments Conference Held in conjunction with UK Space Biomedicine Conference >70 delegates Formation of Space Environments consortium agreed in principle September 2012: full business case for UK subscription to ELIPS is submitted to DBIS and Treasury for scrutiny November 2012: ESA Council of Ministers, Naples: UK Minister for Science and Universities takes decision to join ELIPS for the first time. Also makes decision to commit 20M to ISS exploitation programme. January 2013: SEWG formally established as an advisory group, reporting to the Space Exploration Advisory Committee (formerly known as Aurora Advisory Committee)

2 Terms of Reference (abridged): Advise UK Space Agency on all matters concerning ELIPS exploitation, and any other routes to such research (i.e. non-esa, bilateral arrangements.) Undertake tasks aimed at forming a more coherent SE community Review progress and set targets for exploitation of ELIPS membership Membership: Representatives from across the scientific spectrum, covering (as far as is practical) all disciplines in the ELIPS programme not necessarily space experts, but experts in their fields with experience of space-based experiments Current Membership Charles Cockell (Chair; Edinburgh) Kai Bongs (Birmingham) Jeremy Curtis (UKSA) Helen Fraser (OU) Sue Horne (UKSA) Andy Mullis (Leeds) Tim Peake (ESA) Peter Taylor (UCL) Andrew Kuh (Secretary; UKSA)

3 Astrobiology and ELIPS Charles Cockell University of Edinburgh

4 What is astrobiology? Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the Universe Some of its major questions include: How did life begin? What the limits of the terrestrial biosphere? What is the future of life on Earth and beyond? Does life exist elsewhere in the universe?

5 Astrobiology, STFC and ELIPS STFC Science challenges: B: How do stars and planetary systems develop and is life unique to our planet? B1: How common are planetary systems and is ours typical? B2: How does the Sun influence the environment of the Earth and the rest of the Solar System? B3: Is there life elsewhere in the Universe? ELIPS Research cornerstones: Origin, Evolution and Distribution of Life - Investigate the contribution of space conditions, including radiation, to the formation of prebiotic molecules. - Identify the conditions for survivability of microorganisms in space, including planetary surfaces. - Identify markers and tools to search for extinct and extant life.

6 Engagement of the UK astrobiology community in ELIPS and STFC 5 th UK Astrobiology Conference in Edinburgh (April 17-19, 2013). Over 140 delegates Talk by Rene Demets, ESA on ELIPS (Wednesday April 17) with preceding statement about ELIPS and its importance for the astrobiology community Open UK Astrobiology forum on Thursday April 18 at which ELIPS will be discussed Engagement of ASB and others in Space Environments Conference and experimental proposals for ELIPS studies

7 Oribital Facilities: BIOPAN - A facility for short-term exposure of organics and organisms to space conditions Developed in the 1990s 4 kg payload Temperature control UV radiation measurements Ionizing radiation dosimeters Experiments include: Radiation biology (PHOTO, YEAST II) Radiation dosimetry (RADO, RD3-B, LETVAR) Astrobiology (ORGANICS, LICHENS, MARSTOX, PERMAFROST)

8 EXPOSE - A facility for exposure of organics and organisms to space conditions

9 EXPOSE EXPOSE E (Feb 2008 Sept 2009) PROCESS Prebiotic Organic Chemistry on Space Station SEEDS Testing the plant seed as a terrestrial model for a panspermia vehicle and as a source of universal UV screens PROTECT Resistance of spacecraft isolates to outer space for planetary protection purposes ADAPT Molecular adaptation strategies of micro-organisms to different space and planetary UV climate conditions LIFE Resistance of lichens and lithic fungi to space conditions DOSIS & DOBIES Radiation Dose Distribution inside EXPOSE R3D-E Active monitoring of UV and ionizing radiation Technology

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11 Rocks Using from space Beer, to Devon understand life in extremes

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13 Exposed to: High ultraviolet radiation Extreme desiccation Ionizing radiation For 548 days Olsson-Francis K Appl Env Microbiol 76, Cockell CS et al ISME J. 5,

14 The space survivor! OU_20 A cyanobacterium STFC funded! through responsive mode (postdoc) EPSRC studentship Has led to a funded collaboration with National Physical Laboratory to investigate ionizing radiation resistance for radiobiology application. Olsson-Francis K Appl Env Microbiol 76, Cockell CS et al ISME J. 5,

15 Eating meteorites with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans - a biomining microbe Total Fe Fe 2+ Fe 3+ Murchison meteorite a 3.8 billion year old piece of asteroid Gronstal AL et al Met. Planet. Sci, 44, Cockell CS et al Trends Microbiol 18,

16 Extraterrestrial mining

17 BioROCK Study how microbes extract elements from minerals under simulated microgravity, lunar and Martian gravity on board the International Space Station Gain fundamental insights into liquid-rock interactions and effects of gravity Optimise mining operations for asteroids, Moon and Mars

18 BioRock Science rationale Goal: To understand the three component liquid-water-microbe system Does microgravity affect microbially-induced rock alteration (cf. motility). H: Microgravity influences mixing regimes and microbe-mineral interactions. Does the space environment induce alterations in biofilms in microbes associated with rocks? H: Space conditions change the structure and morphology of microbial biofilms formed on solid rocks substrates from which they are gathering nutrients. Does the space environment induce alterations in the genetics and mutations in microbes associated with rocks? H: The space environment changes the microbe-mineral environment and hence the genetics of rock-dwelling microorganisms. Test of technological capabilities in manipulating microbe-mineral interactions.

19 Kubik facility ISS

20 BioRock Organisms Bacillus subtilis motile heterotroph Polaromonas sp. non-motile heterotroph Ralstonia non-motile heterotroph Experimental set-up 3 expts for three organisms (nine chambers), 1 x 1 cm, 2 mm thick Standard microscope slide with depressions for cells (three of them to ensure contact between liquid and slide).

21 Conclusions Clear synergies between STFC science goals and ELIPS goals in astrochemistry, astrobiology and space technology. ELIPS orbital facilities and Earth-based facilities e.g. parabolic flights offer huge potential for UK science and technology development. We need to widen the number of researchers involved. STFC has ALREADY funded ELIPS research in astrobiology which has led to EPSRC support and collaborations with our national research laboratories and new research in radiobiology.