EXPERIMENT BIOFOBOS IN THE CONTEXT OF CURRENT TASKS OF ASTROBIOLOGY _____________________

1. 2 M_S3 MOONS OF PLANETS Moscow 2011 - IKI RAS EXPERIMENTBIOFOBOSIN THE CONTEXT OF CURRENT TASKS OF ASTROBIOLOGY_____________________ E.A. Vorobyova1,3, A.K. Pavlov2, V.S. Soina3, M.A. Vdovina2, and В.Н. Lomasov2 1IKI RAS, 2Phys.-Techn. Inst. RAS, 3Lomonosov Moscow State University

2. Two fundamental questions define an essence and main tasks of astrobiology: • 1. How did life originate on the Earth? • 2. Is there life beyond the Earth?

3. geocentric approach • “It seems likely that the basic building blocks of life anywhere will be similar to our own, in the generality if not in the detail” (Pace, 2001). The biochemical system used by life on Earth is the optimal one and therefore evolution will cause life everywhere to adopt this same biochemical system.

4. If it is true, the first task of astrobiology is to assess the potential of extraterrestrial environments as well as deep space in terms of maintaining known principles of life to predict the possible extraterrestrial pathways of evolution.

5. terrestrial analogs • space experiments on LEO HIGH SURVIVING AND STABILITY OF CELLS • genetically determined mechanisms of cells’ transition into the resting state • interaction of microbial cells with geological substrates • mechanisms of cell resuscitation TEM in situ: Undamaged cell walls, nucleoids and cytoplasm Most of the intact cells are represented by small forms (o.2-0.5 µm in diam). Both single cells or in conglomerates inside extracellular matrix

6. Dormancy: undetectable metabolic activity reduced size decreasing of water content specific fine structure altered composition of biologically important elements TEM- cells frozen at -90C - no damage by ice crystals TEM- cells preserved in nutrient medium with 8% NaCllook as dormant forms like cysts with thick capsules 0.1 µm 0.1 µm To know life limits in space it is Important to go outside geomagnetosphere

7. The Phobos Sample Return project demonstrates how multi-purpose space mission outside Earth magnetosphere could be cheaply and effectively used for astrobiologicaltasks

8. Transpermia(panspermia) hypothesis allows to create different theoretical models:1. Interplanetaryexchangebytheoriginallivingmatter2. Ideaof“archetypical” viabilityoftheSolarSystembodies (rockyplanets, moonsofplanets, meteorites, andcomets). Assuming the possibility of forming biospheres by planets or moons, we could represent the Solar System as a set of "resting" or "active" living systems.

9. asteroid Fobosapparently represents primary substance of Solar System. It seems to be carbon chondrite or a mix of minerals like sea lunar ground.

10. B I O PH O B O S Fundamental and practical questions : • Interplanetary Transpermia (Panspermia) of viable cells included in small space bodies or in space dust - correct transportation of extraterrestrial samples to the Earth for the subsequent analyses Estimation of possibility of interplanetary transportation of a viable terrestrial ground for the terraforming purposes Updating of quarantine potocol

11. Requirements to the characteristics of the sample: Putative extraterrestrial ecosystems: • - low sunlight • -       low organic matter content • -       low oxygen • - CO2, CH4, H2 • -       low temperature • Source of energy: redox reactions, oxidative reactions • Electron donors: inorganic (organic)compounds CHEMOLITHOAUTOTROPHES Chemolithogeterotrophes • Earth ecosystems: • Biodiversity • High total cell numbers • High viability of cells

12. AVDAT GPS: 30°48'52N, 34°45'26E Negev Desert Plateau in proximity to the town of Mitzpe Ramon (GPS: 30°48'52N, 34°45'26E) ARID SOIL

13. LIFE (10X3) samples Principalschemeoftheproject ANABIOSIS (60 samples) Immobilization on clay ISOLATES SOIL SAMPLE 34 Months

14. Placement in PhSRM Return Capsule LIFE Anabios Phobos-capsules

15. MICROORGANISMS ARCHAE: Chemolithoautotrophes PROCARYOTA: Chemophotoautotrophes(Rhodobacteraceae, Cyanobacteria); Chemolithogeterotrophes (Eubacteria, Proteobacteria) Gr(-), Gr(+) EUCARYA: Yeasts, Fungi ANIMALS PLANTS Ferroplasmaacidiphilum Cell wall-less archaeon, pH growth optimum 1.7, autotroph MethanogenicarchaeonfromanoxiclakesedimentsMethanosarcinalacustris

16. Work program 1 Control studies of biological samples Lab control (20 C, - 18 C, -80 C) MARS ORBITAL EXPERIMENT Exposingexperiments 2 Model experiments on the effects of radiation and vacuum - Experiments in simulatingchambers (soil, isolates) Analyses

17. 2 The dose was absorbed by the sample in a vacuum at a certain temperature in a few minutes

18. astrobiological experiments require further studies with varying orbits and conditions, increasing time of exposure of living organisms in space. • The experimental areas requiring development include: understanding the effects of space radiation on microbes and their interactions with rocks; more experiments exposing microbes to space to try and understand how specific or combined stressors in space influence cells and microbe-mineral interactions; experiments on modified environments and atmospheric compositions in planetary simulation facilities; development of micro-arrays and other bioinformatic tools/techniques for studying microbes and their responses to space conditions; terrestrial testing instruments for potential application to extraterrestrial environments.

19. To be continued… We look forward to a successful launch in November