TY - JOUR A1 - Huwe, Björn A1 - Fiedler, Annelie A1 - Moritz, Sophie A1 - Rabbow, Elke A1 - de Vera, Jean-Pierre Paul A1 - Joshi, Jasmin Radha T1 - Mosses in Low Earth Orbit BT - Implications for the Limits of Life and the Habitability of Mars JF - Astrobiology N2 - As a part of the European Space Agency mission "EXPOSE-R2" on the International Space Station (ISS), the BIOMEX (Biology and Mars Experiment) experiment investigates the habitability of Mars and the limits of life. In preparation for the mission, experimental verification tests and scientific verification tests simulating different combinations of abiotic space- and Mars-like conditions were performed to analyze the resistance of a range of model organisms. The simulated abiotic space- and Mars-stressors were extreme temperatures, vacuum, and Mars-like surface ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in different atmospheres. We present for the first time simulated space exposure data of mosses using plantlets of the bryophyte genus Grimmia, which is adapted to high altitudinal extreme abiotic conditions at the Swiss Alps. Our preflight tests showed that severe UVR200-400nm irradiation with the maximal dose of 5 and 6.8 x 10(5) kJ center dot m(-2), respectively, was the only stressor with a negative impact on the vitality with a 37% (terrestrial atmosphere) or 36% reduction (space- and Mars-like atmospheres) in photosynthetic activity. With every exposure to UVR200-400nm 10(5) kJ center dot m(-2), the vitality of the bryophytes dropped by 6%. No effect was found, however, by any other stressor. As the mosses were still vital after doses of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) expected during the EXPOSE-R2 mission on ISS, we show that this earliest extant lineage of land plants is highly resistant to extreme abiotic conditions. KW - Extremotolerant KW - Bryophyte KW - Plant performance KW - Grimmia sp KW - Irradiation KW - UV irradiation Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2018.1889 SN - 1531-1074 SN - 1557-8070 VL - 19 IS - 2 SP - 221 EP - 232 PB - Liebert CY - New Rochelle ER - TY - JOUR A1 - de Vera, Jean-Pierre Paul A1 - Böttger, Ute A1 - de la Torre Nötzel, Rosa A1 - Sanchez, Francisco J. A1 - Grunow, Dana A1 - Schmitz, Nicole A1 - Lange, Caroline A1 - Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm A1 - Billi, Daniela A1 - Baque, Mickael A1 - Rettberg, Petra A1 - Rabbow, Elke A1 - Reitz, Günther A1 - Berger, Thomas A1 - Möller, Ralf A1 - Bohmeier, Maria A1 - Horneck, Gerda A1 - Westall, Frances A1 - Jänchen, Jochen A1 - Fritz, Jörg A1 - Meyer, Cornelia A1 - Onofri, Silvano A1 - Selbmann, Laura A1 - Zucconi, Laura A1 - Kozyrovska, Natalia A1 - Leya, Thomas A1 - Foing, Bernard A1 - Demets, Rene A1 - Cockell, Charles S. A1 - Bryce, Casey A1 - Wagner, Dirk A1 - Serrano, Paloma A1 - Edwards, Howell G. M. A1 - Joshi, Jasmin Radha A1 - Huwe, Björn A1 - Ehrenfreund, Pascale A1 - Elsaesser, Andreas A1 - Ott, Sieglinde A1 - Meessen, Joachim A1 - Feyh, Nina A1 - Szewzyk, Ulrich A1 - Jaumann, Ralf A1 - Spohn, Tilman T1 - Supporting Mars exploration BIOMEX in Low Earth Orbit and further astrobiological studies on the Moon using Raman and PanCam technology JF - Planetary and space science N2 - The Low Earth Orbit (LEO) experiment Biology and Mars Experiment (BIOMEX) is an interdisciplinary and international space research project selected by ESA. The experiment will be accommodated on the space exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 on the International Space Station (ISS) and is foreseen to be launched in 2013. The prime objective of BIOMEX is to measure to what extent biomolecules, such as pigments and cellular components, are resistant to and able to maintain their stability under space and Mars-like conditions. The results of BIOMEX will be relevant for space proven biosignature definition and for building a biosignature data base (e.g. the proposed creation of an international Raman library). The library will be highly relevant for future space missions such as the search for life on Mars. The secondary scientific objective is to analyze to what extent terrestrial extremophiles are able to survive in space and to determine which interactions between biological samples and selected minerals (including terrestrial, Moon- and Mars analogs) can be observed under space and Mars-like conditions. In this context, the Moon will be an additional platform for performing similar experiments with negligible magnetic shielding and higher solar and galactic irradiation compared to LEO. Using the Moon as an additional astrobiological exposure platform to complement ongoing astrobiological LEO investigations could thus enhance the chances of detecting organic traces of life on Mars. We present a lunar lander mission with two related objectives: a lunar lander equipped with Raman and PanCam instruments which can analyze the lunar surface and survey an astrobiological exposure platform. This dual use of testing mission technology together with geo- and astrobiological analyses will significantly increase the science return, and support the human preparation objectives. It will provide knowledge about the Moon's surface itself and, in addition, monitor the stability of life-markers, such as cells, cell components and pigments, in an extraterrestrial environment with much closer radiation properties to the surface of Mars. The combination of a Raman data base of these data together with data from LEO and space simulation experiments, will lead to further progress on the analysis and interpretation of data that we will obtain from future Moon and Mars exploration missions. KW - Moon KW - Mars KW - Low Earth Orbit KW - Astrobiology KW - Instrumentation KW - Spectroscopy KW - Biosignature Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2012.06.010 SN - 0032-0633 VL - 74 IS - 1 SP - 103 EP - 110 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER -