7 research outputs found
The astrobiological mission EXPOSE-R on board of the International Space Station
EXPOSE-R flew as the second of the European Space Agency (ESA) EXPOSE multi-user facilities on the International Space Station. During the mission on the external URM-D platform of the Zvezda service module, samples of eight international astrobiology experiments selected by ESA and one Russian guest experiment were exposed to low Earth orbit space parameters from March 10th, 2009 to January 21st, 2011. EXPOSE-R accommodated a total of 1220 samples for exposure to selected space conditions and combinations, including space vacuum, temperature cycles through 273K, cosmic radiation, solar electromagnetic radiation at >110, >170 or >200nm at various fluences up to GJm−2. Samples ranged from chemical compounds via unicellular organisms and multicellular mosquito larvae and seeds to passive radiation dosimeters. Additionally, one active radiation measurement instrument was accommodated on EXPOSE-R and commanded from ground in accordance with the facility itself. Data on ultraviolet radiation, cosmic radiation and temperature were measured every 10s and downlinked by telemetry and data carrier every few months. The EXPOSE-R trays and samples returned to Earth on March 9th, 2011 with Shuttle flight, Space Transportation System (STS)-133/ULF 5, Discovery, after successful total mission duration of 27 months in space. The samples were analysed in the individual investigators laboratories. A parallel Mission Ground Reference experiment was performed on ground with a parallel set of hardware and samples under simulated space conditions following to the data transmitted from the flight missio
EXPOSE-R2: The Astrobiological ESA Mission on Board of the International Space Station
On July 23, 2014, the Progress cargo spacecraft 56P was launched from Baikonur to
the International Space Station (ISS), carrying EXPOSE-R2, the third ESA (European
Space Agency) EXPOSE facility, the second EXPOSE on the outside platform of the
Russian Zvezda module, with four international astrobiological experiments into space.
More than 600 biological samples of archaea, bacteria (as biofilms and in planktonic
form), lichens, fungi, plant seeds, triops eggs, mosses and 150 samples of organic
compounds were exposed to the harsh space environment and to parameters similar
to those on the Mars surface. Radiation dosimeters distributed over the whole facility
complemented the scientific payload. Three extravehicular activities later the chemical
samples were returned to Earth on March 2, 2016, with Soyuz 44S, having spent 588
days in space. The biological samples arrived back later, on June 18, 2016, with 45S,
after a total duration in space of 531 days. The exposure of the samples to Low Earth
Orbit vacuum lasted for 531 days and was divided in two parts: protected against solar
irradiation during the first 62 days, followed by exposure to solar radiation during the
subsequent 469 days. In parallel to the space mission, a Mission Ground Reference
(MGR) experiment with a flight identical Hardware and a complete flight identical
set of samples was performed at the premises of DLR (German Aerospace Center)
in Cologne by MUSC (Microgravity User Support Center), according to the mission
data either downloaded from the ISS (temperature data, facility status, inner pressure
status) or provided by RedShift Design and Engineering BVBA, Belgium (calculated ultra
violet radiation fluence data). In this paper, the EXPOSE-R2 facility, the experimental
samples, mission parameters, environmental parameters, and the overall mission and
MGR sequences are described, building the background for the research papers of the
individual experiments, their analysis and results
The astrobiological mission EXPOSE-R on board of the International Space Station
EXPOSE-R flew as the second of the European Space Agency (ESA) EXPOSE multi-user facilities on the International Space Station. During the mission on the external URM-D platform of the Zvezda service module, samples of eight international astrobiology experiments selected by ESA and one Russian guest experiment were exposed to low Earth orbit space parameters from March 10th, 2009 to January 21st, 2011. EXPOSE-R accommodated a total of 1220 samples for exposure to selected space conditions and combinations, including space vacuum, temperature cycles through 273 K, cosmic radiation, solar electromagnetic radiation at >110, >170 or >200 nm at various fluences up to GJ m⁻². Samples ranged from chemical compounds via unicellular organisms and multicellular mosquito larvae and seeds to passive radiation dosimeters. Additionally, one active radiation measurement instrument was accommodated on EXPOSE-R and commanded from ground in accordance with the facility itself. Data on ultraviolet radiation, cosmic radiation and temperature were measured every 10 s and downlinked by telemetry and data carrier every few months. The EXPOSE-R trays and samples returned to Earth on March 9th, 2011 with Shuttle flight, Space Transportation System (STS)-133/ULF 5, Discovery, after successful total mission duration of 27 months in space. The samples were analysed in the individual investigators laboratories. A parallel Mission Ground Reference experiment was performed on ground with a parallel set of hardware and samples under simulated space conditions following to the data transmitted from the flight mission