The astrobiological mission EXPOSE-R on board of the International Space Station

Rabbow, Elke; Rettberg, Petra; Barczyk, Simon; Bohmeier, Maria; Parpart, André; Panitz, Corinna; Horneck, G.; Burfeindt, J.; Molter, Ferdinand; Jaramillo, Esther; Pereira, Carlos M.; Weiß, Peter; Willnecker, R.; Demets, R.; Dettmann, Jan; Reitz, Guenther

doi:10.1017/s1473550414000202

Cited by 73 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(102 reference statements)

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“…EXPOSE-R is a passive exposure facility with AMINO as one of the chemical experiments selected by ESA (Rabbow et al 2014). The EXPOSE-R samples were outside the ISS from 10 March 2009 to 28 January 2011, i.e.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The AMINO experiment: methane photolysis under Solar VUV irradiation on the EXPOSE-R facility of the International Space Station

Carrasco

Cottin

Cloix

et al. 2014

International Journal of Astrobiology

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Abstract:The scientific aim of the present campaign is to study the whole chain of methane photo-degradation, as initiated by Solar vacuum-ultraviolet irradiation in Titan's atmosphere. For this purpose, the AMINO experiment on the EXPOSE-R mission has loaded closed cells for gas-phase photochemistry in space conditions. Two different gas mixtures have been exposed, named Titan 1 and Titan 2, involving both N 2 -CH 4 gas mixtures, without and with CO 2 , respectively. CO 2 is added as a source of reactive oxygen in the cells. The cell contents were analysed thanks to infrared absorption spectroscopy, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Methane consumption leads to the formation of saturated hydrocarbons, with no detectable influence of CO 2 . This successful campaign provides a first benchmark for characterizing the whole methane photochemical system in space conditions. A thin film of tholin-like compounds appears to form on the cell walls of the exposed cells.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The AMINO experiment: methane photolysis under Solar VUV irradiation on the EXPOSE-R facility of the International Space Station

Carrasco

Cottin

Cloix

et al. 2014

International Journal of Astrobiology

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“…Representability of solar Martian simulator is quite satisfactory for UV radiations a dose similar to 7200 h of exposure to the Sun (i.e. about twice the amount of photons collected during the EXPOSE-R experiment on the ISS between 2009 and 2011 (Rabbow et al 2015b)). However, it should be noted that samples are not continuously facing the Sun when they are in space.…”

Section: Space Environment Versus Laboratory Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These trays can also be exchanged when EXPOSE-R is mounted on the URM-D and exposed to the open space, providing increased programmatic flexibility. Attachment, retrieval, and exchange take place by Extra Vehicular Activities (EVA) of the ISS crew (Rabbow et al 2015b). The first EXPOSE-R and its experiment inserts were launched on flight 31P on November 26, 2008 on an unmanned PROGRESS cargo ship on a SOYUZ launcher from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.…”

Section: Expose Outside the International Space Stationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On current facilities such as EXPOSE, only sensors for UV down to 220 nm are included, while radiation is monitored with both the R3D experiment (Dachev et al 2015) and passive thermoluminescence dosimeters located beneath the sample carriers to determine the dose levels for maximum shielding (Berger et al 2015). Due to discontinuous measurements from UV sensors during the EXPOSE campaigns, simulations based on orbits and shadows cast on the samples were necessary to interpret the results (Rabbow et al 2015b;). Appropriate VUV sensors will have to be implemented for future facilities, and strict attitude control and shadowing effect knowledge are necessary to model the VUV-UV dose reaching the samples hosted on satellites such as SORCE (Pankratz et al 2005;Rottman 2005).…”

Section: Limitations Of Current Astrochemistry Facilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…to simulated Martian conditions in low Earth orbit. Analysis of the exposed samples was performed after flight, requiring the download of the samples, and in ground-based simulations as well (Rabbow et al , 2015b.…”

Section: A Extremophilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Space as a Tool for Astrobiology: Review and Recommendations for Experimentations in Earth Orbit and Beyond

et al. 2017

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The space environment is regularly used for experiments addressing astrobiology research goals. The specific conditions prevailing in Earth orbit and beyond, notably the 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 reentry of a spacecraft on Earth to simulate the fall of a meteorite. This paper represents an overview of past and current research in astrobiology conducted 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, notably how they can be improved for better science return, and how to incorporate the use of small satellites such as those built in cubesat format.

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Overview of the ISS Radiation Environment Observed during the ESA EXPOSE‐R2 Mission in 2014–2016

et al. 2017

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The radiation risk radiometer‐dosimeter (R3D)‐R2 solid‐state detector performed radiation measurements at the European Space Agency EXPOSE‐R2 platform outside of the Russian “Zvezda” module at the International Space Station (ISS) from 24 October 2014 to 11 January 2016. The ISS orbital parameters were average altitude of 415 km and 51.6° inclination. We developed special software and used experimentally obtained formulas to determine the radiation flux‐to‐dose ratio from the R3DR2 Liulin‐type deposited‐energy spectrometer. We provide for the first time simultaneous, long‐term estimates of radiation dose external to the ISS for four source categories: (i) galactic cosmic ray particles and their secondary products; (ii) protons in the South Atlantic Anomaly region of the inner radiation belt (IRB); (iii) relativistic electrons and/or bremsstrahlung in the outer radiation belt (ORB); and (iv) solar energetic particle (SEP) events. The latter category is new in this study. Additionally, in this study, secondary particles (SP) resulting from energetic particle interaction with the detector and nearby materials are identified. These are observed continuously at high latitudes. The detected SPs are identified using the same sorting requirements as SEP protons. The IRB protons provide the highest consistent hourly dose, while the ORB electrons and SEPs provide the most extreme hourly doses. SEPs were observed 11 times during the study interval. The R3DR2 data support calculation of average equivalent doses. The 30 day and 1 year average equivalent doses are much smaller than the skin and eyes doses recommendations by the National Council on Radiation Protection (Report 132), which provides radiation protection guidance for Low Earth Orbit.

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The astrobiological mission EXPOSE-R on board of the International Space Station

Cited by 73 publications

References 48 publications

The AMINO experiment: methane photolysis under Solar VUV irradiation on the EXPOSE-R facility of the International Space Station

The AMINO experiment: methane photolysis under Solar VUV irradiation on the EXPOSE-R facility of the International Space Station

Space as a Tool for Astrobiology: Review and Recommendations for Experimentations in Earth Orbit and Beyond

Overview of the ISS Radiation Environment Observed during the ESA EXPOSE‐R2 Mission in 2014–2016

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