Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




STATION NEWS
The worst trip around the world
by Staff Writers
Paris (ESA) Dec 26, 2014


Installing the Expose-R2 facility on the International Space Station. As part of ESA's Expose-R2 project, 46 species of bacteria, fungi and arthropods are inside those containers as they spend 18 months bolted to the outside of the International Space Station. The vacuum of space is sucking out the water, oxygen and other gases in the samples. Their temperature can drop to -12 C as the Station passes through Earth's shadow, rising to 40 C at other times, and undergoing a similar process to the freeze-drying used to preserve foods. The Expose experiments are exploring the limits of terrestrial life, whether the organisms can survive in space and how the full blast of solar radiation is affecting accompanying chemicals. Image courtesy Roscosmos. For a larger version of this image please go here.

As you celebrate the end of the year in the warmth of your home, spare a thought for the organisms riding with a third-class ticket on the International Space Station - bolted to the outside with no protection against open space.

As part of ESA's Expose-R2 project, 46 species of bacteria, fungi and arthropods were delivered by a Progress supply ship to the Station in July. Spacewalking cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev attached the package to the outside of the Zvezda module on 18 August, where it will stay for 18 months.

Freeze-dry, warm, repeat
The vacuum of space is sucking out the water, oxygen and other gases in the samples. Their temperature can drop to -12 C as the Station passes through Earth's shadow, rising to 40 C at other times, and undergoing a similar process to the freeze-drying used to preserve foods.

The Expose experiments are exploring the limits of terrestrial life, whether the organisms can survive in space and how the full blast of solar radiation is affecting accompanying chemicals.

Earth is protected from the Sun's full radiation by our atmosphere filtering out the hard-hitting short wavelengths that are damaging to life. It is difficult to recreate on the ground the full spectrum of the Sun's light so these experiments in space are the only way to test how biological and material samples behave in conditions beyond Earth.

ESA has a long history of testing organisms and organic chemicals in the harsh environment of space. Previous experiments revealed that lichens and water bears can survive spaceflight unprotected, hinting at the possibility of species colonising planets via meteoroids.

Bringing Mars closer to Earth
Not every sample is suffering the same level of discomfort on its epic ride in space. Expose has special compartments that recreate the martian atmosphere by filtering some sunlight and retaining some pressure.

Rene Demets, ESA's project scientist for Expose, explains: "The martian sections allow us to investigate to what extent terrestrial life can cope with the extreme conditions on the Red Planet. We hope they will contribute to the discussion about the possibility of life on Mars."

All the samples are stored in duplicate or even triplicate to strengthen the scientific results when the three trays are returned to Earth in early 2016 for analysis.

Who knows what we will find or even if any of the organisms will have survived possibly the worst voyage around the world.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
ESA Research
Station at NASA
Station and More at Roscosmos
S.P. Korolev RSC Energia
Watch NASA TV via Space.TV
Space Station News at Space-Travel.Com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








STATION NEWS
Bright lights: big cities at night
Paris (ESA) Dec 23, 2014
As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop in Europe, test your geography skills in the warmth of your home - while helping scientists to pinpoint light pollution. Astronauts circling our planet on the International Space Station take wonderful pictures of Earth and many are fascinated by our brightly lit cities at night. Without humans, Earth would be completely dark at night. Ins ... read more


STATION NEWS
'Shooting the Moon' with Satellite Laser Ranging

Moon Express testing compact lunar lander at Kennedy

UK Plans to Drill Into Moon, Explore Feasibility of Manned Base

Carnegie Mellon Unveils Lunar Rover "Andy"

STATION NEWS
Mars rover Opportunity suffering from 'amnesia' says NASA

Mars mission boost welcomed by scientists

U.K. researchers plan to grow lettuce on Mars

Tales from a Martian Rock

STATION NEWS
NASA Glenn Research Center Completes Stirling Generator

Challenges for Orion and SLS

ISRO to study data in crew module's 'black box'

SpaceX Completes First Milestone for Commercial Crew System

STATION NEWS
China's Long March puts satellite in orbit on 200th launch

Countdown to China's new space programs begins

China develops new rocket for manned moon mission: media

Service module of China's returned lunar orbiter reaches L2 point

STATION NEWS
The worst trip around the world

Bright lights: big cities at night

NASA, SpaceX Update Launch of Fifth SpaceX Resupply Mission to ISS

Fifth SpaceX Mission Lets the CATS Out on the International Space Station

STATION NEWS
Russia Launches Soyuz-2.1b Rocket Carrying Satellite: Defense Ministry

Russia Launches European Communications Satellite Atop Proton-M Rocket

SpaceX to attempt landing a rocket on ocean platform

Soyuz Installed at Baikonur, Expected to Launch Wednesday

STATION NEWS
Stretched-out solid exoplanets

Kepler Proves It Can Still Find Planets

NASA's Kepler Reborn, Makes First Exoplanet Find of New Mission

Super-Earth spotted by ground-based telescope, a first

STATION NEWS
New algorithm a Christmas gift to 3D printing - and the environment

Breakthrough in predictions of pressure-dependent combustion reactions

Gecko Grippers Get a Microgravity Test Flight

Atom-high steps halt oxidation of metal surfaces




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.