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  -