Modelling the transfer of life from Mars to its moons
We describe a model of transfer of material from Mars to its moons, and the sterilization that material goes through in that transfer. This is used to gain understanding of if there is viable life on Mars, would that also be on the Martian moons. As Mars is under Planetary Protection, this work looks at should the Martian moons also be under Planetary Protection due to the transfer of unsterilized material. (Source: Life Sciences in Space Research)
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - June 22, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Effects of skeletal unloading on the bone marrow antibody repertoire of tetanus toxoid and/or CpG treated C57BL/6J mice
Publication date: Available online 14 June 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space ResearchAuthor(s): Trisha A. Rettig, Nina C. Nishiyama, Michael J. Pecaut, Stephen K. ChapesAbstractSpaceflight is known to impact the immune system in multiple ways. However, its effect on the antibody repertoire, especially in response to challenge, has not been well characterized. The development of the repertoire has multiple steps that could be affected by spaceflight, including V-(D-)J-gene segment rearrangement and the selection of complementarity determining regions (CDRs); specifically, CDR3, responsible for much of the diversity in the ...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - June 15, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Changes in one-carbon metabolism and DNA methylation in the hearts of mice exposed to space environment-relevant doses of oxygen ions (16O)
Publication date: Available online 31 May 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space ResearchAuthor(s): Isabelle R. Miousse, Charles M. Skinner, Vijayalakshmi Sridharan, John W. Seawright, Preeti Singh, Reid D. Landes, Amrita K. Cheema, Martin Hauer-Jensen, Marjan Boerma, Igor KoturbashABSTRACTCardiovascular disease constitutes an important threat to humans after space missions beyond the Earth's magnetosphere. Epigenetic alterations have an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Previous research in animal models has shown that protons and 56Fe ions cause long-term changes in DNA methylation an...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 31, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
IFC - Editorial Board
Publication date: May 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 21Author(s): (Source: Life Sciences in Space Research)
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 16, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
A Summary on Cutting Edge Advancements in Sterilization and Cleaning Technologies in Medical, Food, and Drug Industries, and Its Applicability to Spacecraft Hardware
Publication date: Available online 15 May 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space ResearchAuthor(s): Raffaele Gradini, Fei Chen, Richmund Tan, Laura NewlinAbstractIssued primarily by COSPAR (the Committee On SPAce Research), international planetary protection policies mandate that all spacecraft hardware in contact with extraterrestrial environments “of chemical evolution and/or origin of life interest and for which scientific opinion provides a significant chance of contamination which could compromise future investigations” (Kminek and Rummel, 2015) undergo biological burden control processes. These policies seek to limit...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 16, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Current Status of Space Radiobiological Studies in China
Publication date: Available online 8 May 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space ResearchAuthor(s): Weiwei Pei, Wentao Hu, Zhifang Chai, Guangming ZhouAbstractAfter successfully launching two space laboratories, Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2, China has announced her next plan of constructing the China Space Station (CSS) in 2022. The CSS will provide not only platforms for Chinese scientists to carry out experimental studies in outer space but also opportunities for open international cooperation. In this article, we review the development of China's manned space exploration missions and the preliminary plan for CSS. Besides, China...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 10, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
The response of Daphnia magna Straus to long-term exposure to simulated geomagnetic storms
Publication date: Available online 25 April 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space ResearchAuthor(s): Viacheslav V. Krylov, Elena A. OsipovaAbstractThe capability of Daphnia magna to adapt to artificial low-frequency magnetic fields via a maternal effect has been demonstrated previously. The current study assessed the possibility of a maternal effect in response to simulated natural geomagnetic fluctuations. D. magna lines were exposed to simulated geomagnetic storms for two, five, and eight sequential generations. Evaluations were conducted on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th generations of daphnids from experimental and control lines i...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - April 25, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Research plans in Europe for radiation health hazard assessment in exploratory space missions
Publication date: Available online 22 April 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space ResearchAuthor(s): L. Walsh, U. Schneider, A. Fogtman, C. Kausch, S. McKenna-Lawlor, L. Narici, J. Ngo-Anh, G. Reitz, L. Sabatier, G. Santin, L. Sihver, U. Straube, U. Weber, M. DuranteAbstractThe European Space Agency (ESA) is currently expanding its efforts in identifying requirements and promoting research towards optimizing radiation protection of astronauts. Space agencies use common limits for tissue (deterministic) effects on the International Space Station. However, the agencies have in place different career radiation exposure limits (f...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - April 23, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
A micro-Raman and X-ray study of erupted submarine pyroclasts from El Hierro (Spain) and its' astrobiological implications
Publication date: May 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 21Author(s): E. Lalla, A. Sanz-Arranz, G. Lopez-Reyes, K. Cote, M. Daly, M. Konstantinidis, J.A. Rodriguez-Losada, G. Groemer, J. Medina, J. Martínez-Frías, F. Rull-PérezAbstractThe pumice volcanic samples could have possible connections to the evolution of life and give us insight about their bio-geochemical processes related. In this regard, the samples from the volcanic eruption from La Restinga (El Hierro, Spain) in 2011 have been mainly studied by means of Raman spectroscopy. The research also includes analysis of XRD, Scanning Electron Micro...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - April 19, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
A micro-Raman and X -ray study of erupted submarine pyroclasts from El Hierro (Spain) and its' astrobiological implications
Publication date: Available online 16 April 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space ResearchAuthor(s): E. Lalla, A. Sanz-Arranz, G. Lopez-Reyes, K. Cote, M. Daly, M. Konstantinidis, J.A. Rodriguez-Losada, G. Groemer, J. Medina, J. Martínez-Frías, F. Rull-PérezAbstractThe pumice volcanic samples could have possible connections to the evolution of life and give us insight about their bio-geochemical processes related. In this regard, the samples from the volcanic eruption from La Restinga (El Hierro, Spain) in 2011 have been mainly studied by means of Raman spectroscopy. The research also includes analysis of XRD, Scanning Ele...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - April 16, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Ray-Tracing Simulation of the Radiation Dose Distribution on the Surface of the Spherical Phantom of the MATROSHKA-R Experiment Onboard the ISS
We present a numerical method for the fast calculation of the radiation dose rate during a space flight. We demonstrate its application for the first and the second sessions of the MATROSHKA-R space experiment with the spherical tissue-equivalent phantom. The main advantage of the method is the short simulation time, so it can be applied for urgent radiation dose calculations for low-Earth orbit space missions.The method uses depth-dose curve and shield-and-composition distribution functions to calculate a radiation dose at the point of interest. The spacecraft geometry is processed into a shield-and-composition distributi...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - April 3, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Early Seedling Response of Six Candidate Crop Species to Increasing Levels of Blue Light
This study examines the influence of monochromatic and dichromatic red and blue light on the early development of six food crop species; Cucumis sativa, Solanum lycopersicum, Glycine max, Raphanus sativus, Pisum sativum, and Capsicum annum. Results support previous findings that light responses are often species specific. The results also support the assertion that monochromatic light can interfere with the normal interaction of various photoreceptors (co-action disruption) resulting in intermediate and sometimes unpredictable responses to a given light environment. The nature of the responses reported inform both bioregen...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - April 3, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Lacuna in the Updated Planetary Protection Policy and International Law
This article discusses the flight characteristics of two specific missions, one launched and one in development, which are consistent with the PPP but nonetheless pose a substantial risk of biological contamination of celestial bodies. The manner in which the risks can be reduced is identified, and suggestions are made to close some of the gaps that remain in the PPP to comply with international law. (Source: Life Sciences in Space Research)
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - March 6, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
On the Decision Making Criteria for Cis-Lunar Reference Mission Scenarios
Publication date: Available online 28 February 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space ResearchAuthor(s): Samy El-Jaby, Brent Lewis, Leena TomiAbstractSpace agencies are currently developing reference mission scenarios to determine if occupational dose limits, already adopted for low-Earth orbit (LEO) missions to the International Space Station (ISS), are also applicable for deep space cis-lunar missions. These cis-lunar missions can potentially last upwards of a year, during which astronauts will experience a daily low-dose from galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) and a potentially high-dose from single, or multiple, solar particl...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - March 1, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Production of nitrates and perchlorates by laser ablation of sodium chloride in simulated Martian atmospheres. Implications for their formation by electric discharges in dust devils
Publication date: Available online 26 February 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space ResearchAuthor(s): Pável U. Martínez-Pabello, Rafael Navarro-González, Xavier Walls, Teresa Pi-Puig, José L. González-Chávez, José G. de la Rosa, Paola Molina, Olivia ZamoraAbstractNitrates and perchlorates are present both on Earth and Mars. In the Martian environment perchlorates dominate over nitrates whereas on Earth is the other way around. This implies that the mechanisms responsible for their formation are different for both planets. The chemical elements required for their formation are nitrogen and chlorine, which are present ...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - February 26, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research
