Space travel, which was once only under the control of the state, attracts the attention of the private sector today. Accelerating studies bring new discoveries with them. Researchers at Edinburgh University have also made an important discovery for life in space with their latest work.
The final stages of the 10-year research on the International Space Station are about to end. The study, carried out by the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to produce the resources necessary for the colony planned to be established on Mars and the Moon with bacteria. In this way, it is aimed that the needed materials do not need to come from the Earth. Here are the details…
Labor moves from humans to bacteria
Humanity has its eyes on space. Many different studies are currently being carried out for space colonies. However, the most important problem, the resource shortage, is still not resolved. Unfortunately, transporting construction materials from Earth with rockets is impractical and quite expensive. The best solution is to find ways to use materials found in colonies like the Moon and Mars.
A new experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has shown that some bacterial species can extract materials useful to colonists from rocks found on the Moon and Mars. The micro-organisms in question; will produce iron, magnesium and minerals to supply systems that supply air and water.
Scientists chose single-celled organisms to extract nutrients and other essential compounds from rocks through special chemical reactions. These bacterial processes in the world; It is used to extract about 20 percent of the total copper and gold. The researchers wanted to find out if the micro-organisms could also show this property in low gravity.
Examination of the BioRock experiment with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.
Image source: ESA (European Space Agency)
In July 2019, SpaceX sent eighteen of these matchbox-sized reactors to the International Space Station. Each of these small reactors was filled with basalt rocks (similar to those on Mars and the Moon) containing a bacterial solution.
Three types of bacteria were tested in a total of 36 experiments, called BioRock. The bacterium Sphingomonas desiccabilis was by far the bacteria species with the greatest influence on mineral extracts.
One of the biomining reactors filled with two basalt rock samples.
Image source: Charles Cockell
Experiments on the ISS continued for three weeks in a microgravity environment. This gravitational environment simulated lunar and Martian conditions. As a result of ongoing experiments in various gravitational fields, no significant difference was found between the ones on Earth.
Biomining will make space travel easier
On Earth, biomining is used for a similar job. This process helps to purify copper, gold and other materials from the raw ore. Study; It showed that bacteria mining on the Moon and Mars could provide valuable resources throughout the settlement process.
NASA said in a statement, “The ability to find materials in space (i.e. build a future Moon or Mars base) will make our job easier. In this way, we can reduce the need for the use of valuable resources in the world and related transport resources. “He explained the situation.
Manned flights to the Moon will resume soon. Researchers are also trying to create building material by adding human urine to the lunar regolith. This way, we won’t have to take all the material from Earth to build a colony on the Moon.
Colonists who settled on Mars could grow a variety of crops to make the planet’s soil fertile for terrestrial plants, thanks to the new method. This work showed us a new way to extract material from planetary surfaces. It also allowed us to learn the rules of space farming.
No space travelers!
Currently, SpaceX plans to put one million people on Mars by 2050. Providing food and supplies for so many people will likely necessitate mining bacteria on the Moon and Mars. The planet’s crust will need to be converted into a variety of materials to feed and house the explorers.
It’s just a matter of time before space travel begins. We will start to explore the universe with permanent bases to be established on different planets rather than touristic trips. The first goal is to settle on the Moon.
What do you think about space travel? Would you like to leave Earth if you could? Don’t forget to mention your ideas in the comments section and on the SDN Forum!
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