The O/OREOS Mission - Astrobiology in Low Earth Orbit

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The O/OREOS Mission - Astrobiology in Low Earth Orbit

Ehrenfreund, P. / Ricco, A. J. / Squires, D. / Kitts, C. / Agasid, E. / Bramall, N. / Bryson, K. / Chittenden, J. / Conley, C. / Cook, A. / ... [more]

Abstract

The O/OREOS (Organism/Organic Exposure to Orbital Stresses) nanosatellite is the first science demonstration spacecraft and flight mission of the NASA Astrobiology Small- Payloads Program (ASP). O/OREOS was launched successfully on November 19, 2010, to a high-inclination (72 deg), 650-km Earth orbit aboard a US Air Force Minotaur IV rocket from Kodiak, Alaska. O/OREOS consists of 3 conjoined cubesat (each 1000 cu cm) modules: (i) a control bus; (ii) the Space Environment Survivability of Living Organisms (SESLO) experiment; and (iii) the Space Environment Viability of Organics (SEVO) experiment. Among the innovative aspects of the O/OREOS mission are a real-time analysis of the photostability of organics and biomarkers and the collection of data on the survival and metabolic activity for microorganisms at 3 times during the 6-month mission. We report on the spacecraft characteristics, payload capabilities, and present operational phase and flight data from the O/OREOS mission. The science and technology rationale of O/OREOS supports NASA0s scientific exploration program by investigating the local space environment as well as space biology relevant to Moon and Mars missions. It also serves as a precursor for experiments on small satellites, the International Space Station (ISS), future free-flyers and lunar surface exposure facilities.

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Document information

Title :

The O/OREOS Mission - Astrobiology in Low Earth Orbit

Contributors:

Ehrenfreund, P. (author) / Ricco, A. J. (author) / Squires, D. (author) / Kitts, C. (author) / Agasid, E. (author) / Bramall, N. (author) / Bryson, K. (author) / Chittenden, J. (author) / Conley, C. (author) / Cook, A. (author)

Published in:

Acta Astronautica ; 93

Publication date :

2014-01-01

Type of media :

Miscellaneous

Type of material :

No indication

Language :

English

Keywords :

Exobiology , Low cost mission , SEVO , Astrobiology , Spectroscopy , O/OREOS , Cubesats , SESLO , Space biology