Mars environment simulation for determining possible existence of extraterrestrial lif

Lozina-Lozinskiy, L.

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Produced by the NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI) 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19690002747 2020-03-12T05:56:16+00:00Z
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Goddard Space Flight Center
Contract No.NAS-5-12487
ST —PR — SB —10777
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"M A R S" ON EARTH !
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25 NOVEMBER 1968
ST-PR- SB -10777
" M A R S " ON EARTH !
Newspaper PRAVDA
	
Column by
November 1968
	
L. LOZINA-LOZINSKIY
SUMMARY
The space program of USSR is quite diversified. Important scientific
experiments have just been completed during the 4-day flight along the near-
Earth' orbit by astronaut G. T. Beregovoy.
At the same time biologists on the ground simulate in their laboratories
the natural conditions of remote planets. This column tells about this new
direction currently applied by Soviet scientists. The subject matter here is
especially concerned with planet Mars.
*
* *
Our representations on the outer space surrounding the Earth, the struc-
ture of nearest planets of the solar system and the physical conditions on
them are being broadened from year to year. While the Moon is studied inten-
sively, our knowledge of Mars and Venus increases rapidly owing to those space
probes that could investigate directly not only the atmosphere but even the
surface of our cosmic neighbors. However, the question remains before us, as
previously, namely, is there life on Mars and other planets?
The most reliable answer to this question will be provided when the sci-
entist will be in a position to set foot on the unknown planet. However,
prior to that, it is important to foresee, whether the astronaut is likely to
encounter living beings on these unknown planets, and what they are like.
Biologists preoccupied with questions of exobiology are almost in unani-
mous agreement that life, in the form of highly organized living beings si-
milar to those populating the Earth is impossible. Nevertheless, on a planet
such as MARS, the existence of organisms, r sembling, for example, bacteria
and plants is quite possible. The color variations of Mars in the course of
the seasons are difficult to explain by causes not connected with life pro-
cesses which are dependent on climate change.
The requirement of beforehand determination as to whether life exists
beyond the Earth is dictated by two considerations. Firstly, extraneous life
and the existence of lower living forms to which man is not adapted, may be
an extremely dangerous factor. Secondly, if there are conditions for life
on the unknown planet, the Earth's organisms may be brought in alongside with
(*)	 [The title implies the simulation of Martian conditions in laboratory]
2the spacecraft and get acclimatized on it, which may change its nature. This
may result in an irreparable damage to science of the Universe.
This is why research is conducted in laboratories, consisting in the
simulation of conditions in space or those. modeling the atmosphere, that is,
its gas content, density, temperature fluctuations, moisture and radiation of
either planet. With this in view, emphasis is now on planet Mars, inasmuch
as the conditions there are closest to terrestrial, and life is more probable
than on others. The cosmic "climate" is created in special hermetically-seal-
ed chambers, where various organisms are placed, such as bacteria, plants,
lower animal forms, where their survival is tested alongside with the capa-
bility of reproduction and other functions.
The composition and the quality of the medium obviously change as our
knowledge of either planet is becoming more accurate. Thus, for example, in
earlier experiments the model Martian atmosphere consisted of nitrogen with
admixture of carbon dioxide, and at times, of oxygen and argon with general
pressure of about 0.1 atm. The temperature fluctuations in various investi-
gations were of 50 to 100 degress in the course of a day, for example from
+25° to -65° (imitation of daily temperature variation on the surface of
Mars). At times radiation was imparted in the chamber to organisms, which
was similar to solar radiation by its composition.
The greatest difficulties arise with the simulation of moisture, parti-
cularly in connection with the fact that, at its negligible content, present
on Mars, is practically impossible to regulate in low-pressure exobiological
chambers.
Investigations, in which nitrogen was the main gas of the atmosphere,
have shown that certain microorganisms live and even reproduce in a closed
system, where all other conditions are near "Martian". However, most of them
either perished, or passed into the state of anabiosis, while reproduction
ceased rapidly, as a rule. Nevertheless, some of the organisms preserved
their viability in the course of a number of months.
Subsequent investigations, so far unitary, have shown that at sub3titu-
tion of nitrogen by carbon dioxide, which, according to latest data is the
main part of Mars' atmosphere, the survival of organisms did not vary subs
tantially. Thus, spores of some bacteria did not lose their viability in
such "Martian" conditions and germinated at the end of the four-week experi-
went.
Methodically, the simulation of Martian and other conditions in closed
chambers is imperfect, for as a result of organisms' vital activity, the gas
composition in them changes, oxygen traces disappear and poisonous gases and
matters accumulate, decelerating the biolog_ca1 processes, particularly
during lengthy experiments. Taking into a-count also that the change of daily
temperature, luminosity and UV irradiatior must take place as on Mars, use is
made of an exobiological chamber of 18 liter volume and low pressure, in which
the simulation of outer space conditions would be more complete, precise and
automatic.
3In this chamber "Photostat" a series of interesting experiments were con-
ducted. One must consider the following conclusion as the most interesting.
At a constant gas change in the chamber (so that 0.0005 - 0.0002 percent of
oxygen be present in it), the pressure being 0.01 atm, not only bacteria may
live, but also the simple one-celled animals requiring oxygen. At the same
time, the fact as to whether the gas medium does or does not consist mainly
of nitrogen or carbon dioxide, is playing no essential role. Therefora, the
constant presence of oxygen in a medium in amounts 4 to 5 million times smal-
ler than in the Earth's atmosphere near its surface, is found to be sufficient
for the existence of some representatives of animal life.
Experiments with "Photostat" show also thatthe basic factor hindering the
reproduction and development of life on Mars is neither the temperature, nor
the gas or radiation content, but the insufficiency of moisture, the rapid
evaporation at low atmospheric pressure. For a more complete explanation and
ascertaining of the role of moisture in "Martian" conditions we should better
be aware of the daily moisture conditions on Mars and of water presence in
the ground and soils.
The obtained data allow us to reach the conclusion that the physical
medium on the surface of Mars , despite its austerity, is not an obstacle
to the development of life, analogous to that of the Earth, particularl bear-
ing in mind the exceptional adaptability and the plasticiLy of one-celled
animals.
Simulation of conditions on other planets by means of the "Photostat"
chamber is anticipated in the future.
**** T H E E N D ****
CONTRACT No.NAS-5-12487 	 Translated by ANDRE L. BRICHANT
VOLT INFORMATION SCIENCES, INC.
1145 - 19th St.NW	 on 25 November 1968
WASHINGTON D.C. 20036
Te: 223-6700 (X-36)


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