Space as a Tool for Astrobiology : Review and Recommendations for Experimentations in Earth Orbit and Beyond
2017
The
space environmentis regularly used for experiments addressing
astrobiologyresearch goals. The specific conditions prevailing in Earth orbit and beyond,
notablythe radiative environment (photons and energetic particles) and the possibility to conduct long-duration measurements, have been the main motivations for developing experimental concepts to expose chemical or biological samples to
outer space, or to use the
reentryof a spacecraft on Earth to simulate the fall of a meteorite. This paper represents an overview of past and current research in
astrobiologyconducted in Earth orbit and beyond, with a special focus on ESA missions such as
Biopan, STONE (on Russian FOTON capsules) and EXPOSE facilities (outside the
International Space Station). The future of exposure platforms is discussed,
notablyhow they can be improved for better science return, and how to incorporate the use of small satellites such as those built in
cubesatformat
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