19 research outputs found
The smallest space miners: principles of space biomining
As we aim to expand human presence in space, we need to find viable approaches to achieve independence from terrestrial resources. Space biomining of the Moon, Mars and asteroids has been indicated as one of the promising approaches to achieve in-situ resource utilization by the main space agencies. Structural and expensive metals, essential mineral nutrients, water, oxygen and volatiles could be potentially extracted from extraterrestrial regolith and rocks using microbial-based biotechnologies. The use of bioleaching microorganisms could also be applied to space bioremediation, recycling of waste and to reinforce regenerative life support systems. However, the science around space biomining is still young. Relevant differences between terrestrial and extraterrestrial conditions exist, including the rock types and ores available for mining, and a direct application of established terrestrial biomining techniques may not be a possibility. It is, therefore, necessary to invest in terrestrial and space-based research of specific methods for space applications to learn the effects of space conditions on biomining and bioremediation, expand our knowledge on organotrophic and community-based bioleaching mechanisms, as well as on anaerobic biomining, and investigate the use of synthetic biology to overcome limitations posed by the space environments
A laboratory for multi-century science
Charles Cockell and colleagues consider what it takes to establish and maintain an experiment that lasts for decades – or even for centuries
Exploring the Development of Astrobiology Scientific Research through Bibliometric Network Analysis: A Focus on Biomining and Bioleaching
Microbial interaction with terrestrial and extraterrestrial rocks on the International Space Station
As space agencies plan to expand human presence in space and to settle on the Moon first and Mars later, developing strategies to achieve this goal in a sustainable way is necessary. These include in situ resource utilization (ISRU) and recovering of materials by waste recycling (1). Microbe based technologies may be pivotal to the success of human space exploration. Potential roles of microorganisms in space include manufacturing, as building blocks of ecosystems, in waste recycling and in biomining (2). Understanding microbial response to space conditions is therefore essential to harness their potential. [...
No Effect of Microgravity and Simulated Mars Gravity on Final Bacterial Cell Concentrations on the International Space Station: Applications to Space Bioproduction
Microorganisms perform countless tasks on Earth and they are expected to be essential
for human space exploration. Despite the interest in the responses of bacteria to space
conditions, the findings on the effects of microgravity have been contradictory, while
the effects of Martian gravity are nearly unknown. We performed the ESA BioRock
experiment on the International Space Station to study microbe-mineral interactions in
microgravity, simulated Mars gravity and simulated Earth gravity, as well as in ground
gravity controls, with three bacterial species: Sphingomonas desiccabilis, Bacillus
subtilis, and Cupriavidus metallidurans. To our knowledge, this was the first experiment
to study simulated Martian gravity on bacteria using a space platform. Here, we tested
the hypothesis that different gravity regimens can influence the final cell concentrations
achieved after a multi-week period in space. Despite the different sedimentation rates
predicted, we found no significant differences in final cell counts and optical densities
between the three gravity regimens on the ISS. This suggests that possible gravityrelated effects on bacterial growth were overcome by the end of the experiment. The
results indicate that microbial-supported bioproduction and life support systems can be
effectively performed in space (e.g., Mars), as on Earth
Microbially-Enhanced Vanadium Mining and Bioremediation Under Micro- and Mars Gravity on the International Space Station
The passivation of calcite by acid mine water. Column experiments with ferric sulfate and ferric chloride solutions at pH 2
A laboratory for multi-century science
Charles Cockell and colleagues consider what it takes to establish and maintain an experiment that lasts for decades – or even for centuries
Toward sustainable space exploration: a roadmap for harnessing the power of microorganisms
Finding sustainable approaches to achieve independence from terrestrial resources is of pivotal importance for the future of space exploration. This is relevant not only to establish viable space exploration beyond low Earth–orbit, but also for ethical considerations associated with the generation of space waste and the preservation of extra-terrestrial environments. Here we propose and highlight a series of microbial biotechnologies uniquely suited to establish sustainable processes for in situ resource utilization and loop-closure. Microbial biotechnologies research and development for space sustainability will be translatable to Earth applications, tackling terrestrial environmental issues, thereby supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.</p