Exocube: A miniaturized in-situ space laboratory for astrobiological exposure experiments on the International Space Station.

摘要

The influence of space and planetary conditions on organic molecules, biological supramolecular structures, and living organisms is of prime interest in the field of astrobiology. Experimentally, space and planetary conditions are not easily accessible in ground-based laboratories. This especially holds true for space radiation and microgravity. Therefore, performing experiments directly in space allows exposure to real microgravity and overcomes the technical challenge of trying to simulate solar and cosmic radiation on Earth. The Exocube space exposure platform is currently being developed by the European Space Agency as part of a new European Space Exposure Platform for the International Space Station. Exocube will be equipped with a miniaturized Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and a system of LEDs and photodiodes for colorimetric and fluorescent spectrophotometry. One of the main questions Exocube will address is how life at different stages of complexity responds to, and evolves in space and planetary conditions, and what biomolecular mechanisms come into play at the interface between biology and physics. Exocube is aiming to address these questions with far reaching implications for the interpretation of the results of past and upcoming planetary exploration missions. Exocube is part of a new generation of space exposure experiments that monitor experimental parameters in-situ via spectroscopic instrumentation. While leveraging existing cubesat technology from the O/OREOS satellite, Exocube is pushing forward the design and development of in-situ experiments for astrobiology in space. On Exocube, it will be possible to expose living organisms not only to cosmic but also to solar radiation whereas photochemical reactions of organic molecules can be interrogated via infrared spectroscopy. Experiments on Exocube range from exposure of biogenic molecules and protocellular structures to living prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. Well-characterized sa