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ESA Conducts Mars Terraforming Experiments On ISS

Posted by samzenpus on from the give-those-people-air dept.

geegel writes "Space is a hostile environment for living things, but small organisms on the Expose-E experiment unit outside Europe's Columbus ISS laboratory module have resisted the solar UV radiation, cosmic rays, vacuum and varying temperatures for 18 months. A certain lichen seems to be particularly happy in open space."

4 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Mars by Chris+Lawrence · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yes, but it was way behind schedule and for a long time had only a minimum crew. They needed to spend all their time just maintaining the station which didn't leave any time for scientific research. Now, finally, they have a full crew and can actually get down to business.

  2. It's not open space... by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's near earth orbit. INSIDE the magnetosphere which removes a huge amount of radiation from the equation.

    Big difference there.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  3. Re:Mars by OolimPhon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You misunderstand. Actually building the thing has involved a whole lot of new engineering and scientific knowledge.

    Doing experiments now it's up there is fine, but just getting it up there taught us a lot (including, the shuttle was a bad idea).

  4. Re:Mars by Greg+Hullender · · Score: 3, Insightful
    On Earth, the Oxygen Cycle is about a million years. Seed Mars with plants, add water, and wait a million years. Presto! Instant oxygen atmosphere.

    Of course, advanced technology might cut that to as little as ten-thousand years . . .

    --Greg (Why I lost interest in terraforming)