Have water bears ever been studied on the ISS or in Space?

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP











up vote
4
down vote

favorite












I'm sure a lot of people are familiar with the ever resilient tardigrades. Have we ever done studies to see how they would fair in a space environment or any other neat studies, perhaps aboard the ISS? If so, what were the experiments done, and what were the results? I know there's a topic about experimentation with life aboard the ISS, but in general I want to know if we've ever considered sending them to another planet, or anything else.



As these are the most resilient forms of life we know, have we tried studying them in one of the most unforgiving environments we know? Have we ever considered them for being the first astronauts to land on another planet?



Question inspired by a joke I made in a comment: Personally, I think we should just get handfuls of water-bears and a mini rail-gun. Then we should aim the bio-rail-gun at random planets during fly-by's and shoot the water-bears at the planets.










share|improve this question



























    up vote
    4
    down vote

    favorite












    I'm sure a lot of people are familiar with the ever resilient tardigrades. Have we ever done studies to see how they would fair in a space environment or any other neat studies, perhaps aboard the ISS? If so, what were the experiments done, and what were the results? I know there's a topic about experimentation with life aboard the ISS, but in general I want to know if we've ever considered sending them to another planet, or anything else.



    As these are the most resilient forms of life we know, have we tried studying them in one of the most unforgiving environments we know? Have we ever considered them for being the first astronauts to land on another planet?



    Question inspired by a joke I made in a comment: Personally, I think we should just get handfuls of water-bears and a mini rail-gun. Then we should aim the bio-rail-gun at random planets during fly-by's and shoot the water-bears at the planets.










    share|improve this question

























      up vote
      4
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      4
      down vote

      favorite











      I'm sure a lot of people are familiar with the ever resilient tardigrades. Have we ever done studies to see how they would fair in a space environment or any other neat studies, perhaps aboard the ISS? If so, what were the experiments done, and what were the results? I know there's a topic about experimentation with life aboard the ISS, but in general I want to know if we've ever considered sending them to another planet, or anything else.



      As these are the most resilient forms of life we know, have we tried studying them in one of the most unforgiving environments we know? Have we ever considered them for being the first astronauts to land on another planet?



      Question inspired by a joke I made in a comment: Personally, I think we should just get handfuls of water-bears and a mini rail-gun. Then we should aim the bio-rail-gun at random planets during fly-by's and shoot the water-bears at the planets.










      share|improve this question















      I'm sure a lot of people are familiar with the ever resilient tardigrades. Have we ever done studies to see how they would fair in a space environment or any other neat studies, perhaps aboard the ISS? If so, what were the experiments done, and what were the results? I know there's a topic about experimentation with life aboard the ISS, but in general I want to know if we've ever considered sending them to another planet, or anything else.



      As these are the most resilient forms of life we know, have we tried studying them in one of the most unforgiving environments we know? Have we ever considered them for being the first astronauts to land on another planet?



      Question inspired by a joke I made in a comment: Personally, I think we should just get handfuls of water-bears and a mini rail-gun. Then we should aim the bio-rail-gun at random planets during fly-by's and shoot the water-bears at the planets.







      life






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 7 mins ago

























      asked 1 hour ago









      Magic Octopus Urn

      1,6481830




      1,6481830




















          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes

















          up vote
          4
          down vote













          They have been flown on the FOTON-M3 mission...




          In 2007, three projects were conducted during the FOTON-M3 mission
          studies. The Tardigrade Resistance to Space Effects (TARSE) Project
          was the first one involved in the mission of FOTON-M3. Its aim was to
          analyse the impact of environmental stress, life history traits and
          DNA damages in space (on board the spacecraft) on eutardigrade
          Paramacrobiotus richtersi (Murray, 1911). In this project active and
          anhydrobiotic tardigrades were exposed to radiation in microgravity
          conditions. Both active and inactive individuals had high survival
          rates with no induction of HSPs while showing an induction of the
          antioxidant response (Rebecchi et al. 2009c, 2010b, 2011a). The next
          project involved in the mission of FOTON-M3 was TARDIS (Tardigrada In
          Space). The main goal of this project was to check whether tardigrades
          from two species, Milnesium tardigradum Doyère, 1840 and Richtersius
          coronifer (Richters, 1903), were able to survive conditions of open
          space. The experiments showed that tardigrades can survive exposure to
          the space vacuum, but the addition of factors such as ultraviolet
          solar radiation, ionising solar radiation and galactic cosmic
          radiation significantly reduced their survival rate (Jönsson, et al.
          2008). In the third project from the FOTON-M3 mission, RoTaRad
          (Rotifers, Tardigrades and Radiation), scientists examined effects on
          initial survival, long-term survival and fecundity of selected species
          of limno-terrestrial tardigrades in extreme stress conditions (mainly
          cosmic radiation) (Persson et al. 2011).




          and on the shuttle/ISS....




          Next was the Endeavour mission in 2011 and the project TARDIKISS
          (Tardigrades in Space). The main aim of this project was to broaden
          our knowledge of life history traits and mechanisms of repairing
          structural DNA damage during exposure to space flight stresses
          (Rebecchi et al. 2011b; Vukich et al. 2012). The first results showed
          that microgravity and cosmic radiation did not significantly affect
          the survival rate of tardigrades (Rebecchi et al. 2011b; Vukich et al.
          2012). However, Rizzo et al. (2015) showed a significant difference in
          activities of ROS scavenging enzymes, the total content of glutathione
          and the fatty acid composition between tardigrades sent into space and
          control animals on Earth.




          source



          Additional info on the shuttle/ISS TARDIKISS experiments here.






          share|improve this answer




















          • TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
            – Magic Octopus Urn
            1 hour ago






          • 2




            Not that I'm aware of. "Planetary protection" protocols would probably prevent anything like that, although it is a contentious subject, and one I am not familiar with. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_protection
            – Organic Marble
            1 hour ago










          • Why aren't humans considered Forward contamination! We shouldn't be able to colonize anything by that logic ;). Also I am aware of that "space law", for lack of a better description. Just because something is illegal doesn't mean nobody has done a thought experiment on it or proposed the idea before in an academic medium :).
            – Magic Octopus Urn
            11 mins ago











          Your Answer




          StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function ()
          return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function ()
          StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix)
          StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
          );
          );
          , "mathjax-editing");

          StackExchange.ready(function()
          var channelOptions =
          tags: "".split(" "),
          id: "508"
          ;
          initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

          StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
          // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
          if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
          StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
          createEditor();
          );

          else
          createEditor();

          );

          function createEditor()
          StackExchange.prepareEditor(
          heartbeatType: 'answer',
          convertImagesToLinks: false,
          noModals: false,
          showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
          reputationToPostImages: null,
          bindNavPrevention: true,
          postfix: "",
          noCode: true, onDemand: true,
          discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
          ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
          );



          );













           

          draft saved


          draft discarded


















          StackExchange.ready(
          function ()
          StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fspace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f31244%2fhave-water-bears-ever-been-studied-on-the-iss-or-in-space%23new-answer', 'question_page');

          );

          Post as a guest






























          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes








          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes








          up vote
          4
          down vote













          They have been flown on the FOTON-M3 mission...




          In 2007, three projects were conducted during the FOTON-M3 mission
          studies. The Tardigrade Resistance to Space Effects (TARSE) Project
          was the first one involved in the mission of FOTON-M3. Its aim was to
          analyse the impact of environmental stress, life history traits and
          DNA damages in space (on board the spacecraft) on eutardigrade
          Paramacrobiotus richtersi (Murray, 1911). In this project active and
          anhydrobiotic tardigrades were exposed to radiation in microgravity
          conditions. Both active and inactive individuals had high survival
          rates with no induction of HSPs while showing an induction of the
          antioxidant response (Rebecchi et al. 2009c, 2010b, 2011a). The next
          project involved in the mission of FOTON-M3 was TARDIS (Tardigrada In
          Space). The main goal of this project was to check whether tardigrades
          from two species, Milnesium tardigradum Doyère, 1840 and Richtersius
          coronifer (Richters, 1903), were able to survive conditions of open
          space. The experiments showed that tardigrades can survive exposure to
          the space vacuum, but the addition of factors such as ultraviolet
          solar radiation, ionising solar radiation and galactic cosmic
          radiation significantly reduced their survival rate (Jönsson, et al.
          2008). In the third project from the FOTON-M3 mission, RoTaRad
          (Rotifers, Tardigrades and Radiation), scientists examined effects on
          initial survival, long-term survival and fecundity of selected species
          of limno-terrestrial tardigrades in extreme stress conditions (mainly
          cosmic radiation) (Persson et al. 2011).




          and on the shuttle/ISS....




          Next was the Endeavour mission in 2011 and the project TARDIKISS
          (Tardigrades in Space). The main aim of this project was to broaden
          our knowledge of life history traits and mechanisms of repairing
          structural DNA damage during exposure to space flight stresses
          (Rebecchi et al. 2011b; Vukich et al. 2012). The first results showed
          that microgravity and cosmic radiation did not significantly affect
          the survival rate of tardigrades (Rebecchi et al. 2011b; Vukich et al.
          2012). However, Rizzo et al. (2015) showed a significant difference in
          activities of ROS scavenging enzymes, the total content of glutathione
          and the fatty acid composition between tardigrades sent into space and
          control animals on Earth.




          source



          Additional info on the shuttle/ISS TARDIKISS experiments here.






          share|improve this answer




















          • TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
            – Magic Octopus Urn
            1 hour ago






          • 2




            Not that I'm aware of. "Planetary protection" protocols would probably prevent anything like that, although it is a contentious subject, and one I am not familiar with. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_protection
            – Organic Marble
            1 hour ago










          • Why aren't humans considered Forward contamination! We shouldn't be able to colonize anything by that logic ;). Also I am aware of that "space law", for lack of a better description. Just because something is illegal doesn't mean nobody has done a thought experiment on it or proposed the idea before in an academic medium :).
            – Magic Octopus Urn
            11 mins ago















          up vote
          4
          down vote













          They have been flown on the FOTON-M3 mission...




          In 2007, three projects were conducted during the FOTON-M3 mission
          studies. The Tardigrade Resistance to Space Effects (TARSE) Project
          was the first one involved in the mission of FOTON-M3. Its aim was to
          analyse the impact of environmental stress, life history traits and
          DNA damages in space (on board the spacecraft) on eutardigrade
          Paramacrobiotus richtersi (Murray, 1911). In this project active and
          anhydrobiotic tardigrades were exposed to radiation in microgravity
          conditions. Both active and inactive individuals had high survival
          rates with no induction of HSPs while showing an induction of the
          antioxidant response (Rebecchi et al. 2009c, 2010b, 2011a). The next
          project involved in the mission of FOTON-M3 was TARDIS (Tardigrada In
          Space). The main goal of this project was to check whether tardigrades
          from two species, Milnesium tardigradum Doyère, 1840 and Richtersius
          coronifer (Richters, 1903), were able to survive conditions of open
          space. The experiments showed that tardigrades can survive exposure to
          the space vacuum, but the addition of factors such as ultraviolet
          solar radiation, ionising solar radiation and galactic cosmic
          radiation significantly reduced their survival rate (Jönsson, et al.
          2008). In the third project from the FOTON-M3 mission, RoTaRad
          (Rotifers, Tardigrades and Radiation), scientists examined effects on
          initial survival, long-term survival and fecundity of selected species
          of limno-terrestrial tardigrades in extreme stress conditions (mainly
          cosmic radiation) (Persson et al. 2011).




          and on the shuttle/ISS....




          Next was the Endeavour mission in 2011 and the project TARDIKISS
          (Tardigrades in Space). The main aim of this project was to broaden
          our knowledge of life history traits and mechanisms of repairing
          structural DNA damage during exposure to space flight stresses
          (Rebecchi et al. 2011b; Vukich et al. 2012). The first results showed
          that microgravity and cosmic radiation did not significantly affect
          the survival rate of tardigrades (Rebecchi et al. 2011b; Vukich et al.
          2012). However, Rizzo et al. (2015) showed a significant difference in
          activities of ROS scavenging enzymes, the total content of glutathione
          and the fatty acid composition between tardigrades sent into space and
          control animals on Earth.




          source



          Additional info on the shuttle/ISS TARDIKISS experiments here.






          share|improve this answer




















          • TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
            – Magic Octopus Urn
            1 hour ago






          • 2




            Not that I'm aware of. "Planetary protection" protocols would probably prevent anything like that, although it is a contentious subject, and one I am not familiar with. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_protection
            – Organic Marble
            1 hour ago










          • Why aren't humans considered Forward contamination! We shouldn't be able to colonize anything by that logic ;). Also I am aware of that "space law", for lack of a better description. Just because something is illegal doesn't mean nobody has done a thought experiment on it or proposed the idea before in an academic medium :).
            – Magic Octopus Urn
            11 mins ago













          up vote
          4
          down vote










          up vote
          4
          down vote









          They have been flown on the FOTON-M3 mission...




          In 2007, three projects were conducted during the FOTON-M3 mission
          studies. The Tardigrade Resistance to Space Effects (TARSE) Project
          was the first one involved in the mission of FOTON-M3. Its aim was to
          analyse the impact of environmental stress, life history traits and
          DNA damages in space (on board the spacecraft) on eutardigrade
          Paramacrobiotus richtersi (Murray, 1911). In this project active and
          anhydrobiotic tardigrades were exposed to radiation in microgravity
          conditions. Both active and inactive individuals had high survival
          rates with no induction of HSPs while showing an induction of the
          antioxidant response (Rebecchi et al. 2009c, 2010b, 2011a). The next
          project involved in the mission of FOTON-M3 was TARDIS (Tardigrada In
          Space). The main goal of this project was to check whether tardigrades
          from two species, Milnesium tardigradum Doyère, 1840 and Richtersius
          coronifer (Richters, 1903), were able to survive conditions of open
          space. The experiments showed that tardigrades can survive exposure to
          the space vacuum, but the addition of factors such as ultraviolet
          solar radiation, ionising solar radiation and galactic cosmic
          radiation significantly reduced their survival rate (Jönsson, et al.
          2008). In the third project from the FOTON-M3 mission, RoTaRad
          (Rotifers, Tardigrades and Radiation), scientists examined effects on
          initial survival, long-term survival and fecundity of selected species
          of limno-terrestrial tardigrades in extreme stress conditions (mainly
          cosmic radiation) (Persson et al. 2011).




          and on the shuttle/ISS....




          Next was the Endeavour mission in 2011 and the project TARDIKISS
          (Tardigrades in Space). The main aim of this project was to broaden
          our knowledge of life history traits and mechanisms of repairing
          structural DNA damage during exposure to space flight stresses
          (Rebecchi et al. 2011b; Vukich et al. 2012). The first results showed
          that microgravity and cosmic radiation did not significantly affect
          the survival rate of tardigrades (Rebecchi et al. 2011b; Vukich et al.
          2012). However, Rizzo et al. (2015) showed a significant difference in
          activities of ROS scavenging enzymes, the total content of glutathione
          and the fatty acid composition between tardigrades sent into space and
          control animals on Earth.




          source



          Additional info on the shuttle/ISS TARDIKISS experiments here.






          share|improve this answer












          They have been flown on the FOTON-M3 mission...




          In 2007, three projects were conducted during the FOTON-M3 mission
          studies. The Tardigrade Resistance to Space Effects (TARSE) Project
          was the first one involved in the mission of FOTON-M3. Its aim was to
          analyse the impact of environmental stress, life history traits and
          DNA damages in space (on board the spacecraft) on eutardigrade
          Paramacrobiotus richtersi (Murray, 1911). In this project active and
          anhydrobiotic tardigrades were exposed to radiation in microgravity
          conditions. Both active and inactive individuals had high survival
          rates with no induction of HSPs while showing an induction of the
          antioxidant response (Rebecchi et al. 2009c, 2010b, 2011a). The next
          project involved in the mission of FOTON-M3 was TARDIS (Tardigrada In
          Space). The main goal of this project was to check whether tardigrades
          from two species, Milnesium tardigradum Doyère, 1840 and Richtersius
          coronifer (Richters, 1903), were able to survive conditions of open
          space. The experiments showed that tardigrades can survive exposure to
          the space vacuum, but the addition of factors such as ultraviolet
          solar radiation, ionising solar radiation and galactic cosmic
          radiation significantly reduced their survival rate (Jönsson, et al.
          2008). In the third project from the FOTON-M3 mission, RoTaRad
          (Rotifers, Tardigrades and Radiation), scientists examined effects on
          initial survival, long-term survival and fecundity of selected species
          of limno-terrestrial tardigrades in extreme stress conditions (mainly
          cosmic radiation) (Persson et al. 2011).




          and on the shuttle/ISS....




          Next was the Endeavour mission in 2011 and the project TARDIKISS
          (Tardigrades in Space). The main aim of this project was to broaden
          our knowledge of life history traits and mechanisms of repairing
          structural DNA damage during exposure to space flight stresses
          (Rebecchi et al. 2011b; Vukich et al. 2012). The first results showed
          that microgravity and cosmic radiation did not significantly affect
          the survival rate of tardigrades (Rebecchi et al. 2011b; Vukich et al.
          2012). However, Rizzo et al. (2015) showed a significant difference in
          activities of ROS scavenging enzymes, the total content of glutathione
          and the fatty acid composition between tardigrades sent into space and
          control animals on Earth.




          source



          Additional info on the shuttle/ISS TARDIKISS experiments here.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 1 hour ago









          Organic Marble

          48.6k3123206




          48.6k3123206











          • TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
            – Magic Octopus Urn
            1 hour ago






          • 2




            Not that I'm aware of. "Planetary protection" protocols would probably prevent anything like that, although it is a contentious subject, and one I am not familiar with. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_protection
            – Organic Marble
            1 hour ago










          • Why aren't humans considered Forward contamination! We shouldn't be able to colonize anything by that logic ;). Also I am aware of that "space law", for lack of a better description. Just because something is illegal doesn't mean nobody has done a thought experiment on it or proposed the idea before in an academic medium :).
            – Magic Octopus Urn
            11 mins ago

















          • TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
            – Magic Octopus Urn
            1 hour ago






          • 2




            Not that I'm aware of. "Planetary protection" protocols would probably prevent anything like that, although it is a contentious subject, and one I am not familiar with. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_protection
            – Organic Marble
            1 hour ago










          • Why aren't humans considered Forward contamination! We shouldn't be able to colonize anything by that logic ;). Also I am aware of that "space law", for lack of a better description. Just because something is illegal doesn't mean nobody has done a thought experiment on it or proposed the idea before in an academic medium :).
            – Magic Octopus Urn
            11 mins ago
















          TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
          – Magic Octopus Urn
          1 hour ago




          TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
          – Magic Octopus Urn
          1 hour ago




          2




          2




          Not that I'm aware of. "Planetary protection" protocols would probably prevent anything like that, although it is a contentious subject, and one I am not familiar with. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_protection
          – Organic Marble
          1 hour ago




          Not that I'm aware of. "Planetary protection" protocols would probably prevent anything like that, although it is a contentious subject, and one I am not familiar with. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_protection
          – Organic Marble
          1 hour ago












          Why aren't humans considered Forward contamination! We shouldn't be able to colonize anything by that logic ;). Also I am aware of that "space law", for lack of a better description. Just because something is illegal doesn't mean nobody has done a thought experiment on it or proposed the idea before in an academic medium :).
          – Magic Octopus Urn
          11 mins ago





          Why aren't humans considered Forward contamination! We shouldn't be able to colonize anything by that logic ;). Also I am aware of that "space law", for lack of a better description. Just because something is illegal doesn't mean nobody has done a thought experiment on it or proposed the idea before in an academic medium :).
          – Magic Octopus Urn
          11 mins ago


















           

          draft saved


          draft discarded















































           


          draft saved


          draft discarded














          StackExchange.ready(
          function ()
          StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fspace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f31244%2fhave-water-bears-ever-been-studied-on-the-iss-or-in-space%23new-answer', 'question_page');

          );

          Post as a guest













































































          Comments

          Popular posts from this blog

          What does second last employer means? [closed]

          Installing NextGIS Connect into QGIS 3?

          One-line joke