Have water bears ever been studied on the ISS or in Space?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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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
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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.
life
add a comment |Â
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.
life
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
life
edited 7 mins ago
asked 1 hour ago
Magic Octopus Urn
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1 Answer
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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.
TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
â 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
â 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 :).
â Magic Octopus Urn
11 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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.
TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
â 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
â 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 :).
â Magic Octopus Urn
11 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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.
TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
â 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
â 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 :).
â Magic Octopus Urn
11 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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.
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.
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?
â 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
â 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 :).
â Magic Octopus Urn
11 mins ago
add a comment |Â
TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
â 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
â 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 :).
â Magic Octopus Urn
11 mins ago
TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
â Magic Octopus Urn
1 hour ago
TARDIKISS hah... any known proposals to try and inject them onto another body? Even an asteroid?
â 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
â 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
â 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 :).
â 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 :).
â Magic Octopus Urn
11 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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