Difference between revisions of "Team:UNIK Copenhagen/Mars"

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<h2>Soil Composition</h2>
 
<h2>Soil Composition</h2>
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<h2>Mars Chamber [1]</h2>
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<p>Imagine being able to visit Mars on earth. With a press of a button you can change any variable, simulate any possible situation, and predict the future of Mars missions.  This is not science fiction, but is achieved in the Mars Environmental Chamber at the Niels Bohr Institute.
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<br><br>
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The experiments are carried out in a so called Mars-chamber available at the University of Copenhagen under the research group ‘StarPlan’. The chamber consists of two units inside of each other: The outer unit is a big glovebox, which is accessed through an airlock which can be evacuated so that no unwanted atmospheric gasses (or moisture) can get in. Only the airlock is evacuated; the glovebox itself can handle a slightly reduced pressure, but usually a pressure (N2) is maintained inside, which is slightly higher than the outside pressure (in order to minimize the risk of leakage).
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 +
<br><br>
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The chamber is designed to handle samples in an inactive gas (f.ex. N2 or Argon) before a sample from here is placed in a vacuum-chamber (the inner unit), which can be evacuated, supplied with a low-pressure Mars-like atmosphere (mainly CO2) and possible be heated, cooled, or irradiated by UV-light. The chamber cannot handle experiments of reduced or no gravity and also magnetic fields are difficult if the field has to be powerful or span a large volume.
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<br><br>
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<div id="imagebox">
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<div class="imageboxshadow">
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/e/ed/UNIK_Copenhagen_technicalmarschamber.png" width=65%></div>
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Detaied image of the Mars Chamber. Credit: Rita Kajtar</div>
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<br><br>
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<h2>Aim of Mars Chamber experiment:</h2>
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Our aim is to test the survivability of moss by changing the following variables to simulate their presence on Mars:
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<br><br>
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<li>Radiation + UV and cosmic
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<li>Pressure
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<li>Atmospheric composition
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<br><br>
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 +
 +
<h2>Experiment protocols </h2>
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<h3>Pressure</h3>
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Samples are prepared under Optimal Growth Conditions™.
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<li>Earth-like pressure (negative control)
 +
<li>Martian-like pressure (best-case scenario)
 +
<li>Martian-like pressure (worst-case scenario)
 +
<li>Martian-like pressure made to mimic Earth-like conditions, with materials astronauts can bring with them
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<li>Growth Capsule </li>
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<br>
 +
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Samples are collected at t=(24)n  hours, where n = 0 .. 7
 +
 +
Consider how the pressure and atmospheric conditions might stress moss growth.  (It requires CO2 and O2 , but if the pressure drops too low it might not be able to harness such gasses for metabolism and photosynthesis.
 +
 +
<h3>Atmospheric composition</h3>
 +
 +
Samples are prepared under Optimal Growth Conditions™.
 +
 +
<li>Earth-like composition
 +
<li>Martian-like composition
 +
<li>Martian-like composition made to mimic Earth-like conditions, with materials astronauts can bring with them
 +
<li>Growth Capsule </li>
 +
 +
Should be noted how gasses behave at Martian temperature/pressure, to find the correct state of the gas in the phase-diagrams of the gas.
 +
 +
Samples are collected at t=(24)n  hours, where n = 0 .. 7
 +
 +
<h3>UV radiation </h3>
 +
 +
The goal is to test whether moss can survive the radiation it will receive on the surface of Mars.
 +
<br> <br>
 +
 +
To set up radiation experiment, we set up Optimal Growth Conditions™ for the moss, but alter the radiation the moss will receive.
 +
This is done in the Mars Chamber, where we introduce a UV source, and vary the distance of the moss to the lamp, producing a UV gradient.
 +
<br><br>
 +
 +
Samples are collected at t=(24)n  hours, where n = 0 .. 7
 +
<br> <br>
 +
 +
<h1>Conclusion</h1>
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 +
While we did not carry out these experiments due to time pressure and our main focus being the temperature variable which could not be tested in the Mars Chmaber, we will strongly suggest that next year's team carry out the experiments. The Mars Chamber is highly equipped to simulate the martian environment and the other variables that come into play when evaluating whether or not moss could survive on Mars.
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<br><br>
 +
 +
 +
<div id="imagebox">
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<div class="imageboxshadow">
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/3/33/UNIK_Copenhagen_Ceciliemars.jpg" width=50%></div>
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Looking into the Mars Chamber</div>
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<br><br>
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<p><b>References:</b>
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<br>
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<b>[1]</b> Kajtar, Rita (2014).Mars Environmental Chamber for Simulation of
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Weathering Processes on Mars. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Copenhagen  <br>
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<b>[1]</b> Kajtar, Rita (2014).Mars Environmental Chamber for Simulation of
 
<b>[1]</b> Kajtar, Rita (2014).Mars Environmental Chamber for Simulation of
 
Weathering Processes on Mars. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Copenhagen  <br>
 
Weathering Processes on Mars. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Copenhagen  <br>
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</html>
 
</html>

Revision as of 20:15, 17 September 2015


Why go to Mars?

“Either we’re a multi-planet species and out there exploring the stars, or we are a single-planet species waiting around for some eventual extinction event.”
- Elon Musk

Curiosity has always been a driving factor in human exploration. In the video below, Christina argues why the future of human exploration should take place in the vastness of space.





Challanges facing moss on Mars

Temperature

Since temperature fluctuates on all areas of Mars, it is vital for the survival of our moss that we test its ability to survive scathing changes in temperatures. In order for a moss to survive on the surface of Mars, it will have to be able to survive a wide range of conditions not normally encountered on earth. One of these is wildly fluctuating temperatures. Just as on Earth, the temperatures on Mars vary with the seasons. At the Equator, the warmest month (October) usually doesn’t get much hotter than 4°C, while the coldest month (March) usually gets up to around -23°C. Unlike on Earth, however, these seasonal variations pale in comparison with the variations observed in the day-to-day cycle. Between the heat of day and the chill of night, it is not unusual to see fluctuations on the order of 60°C - 80°C. In October, for instance, while the hottest average day temperature is the aforementioned 4°C, the coldest average night temperature is a teeth-rattling -73°C.


Mars surface temperature at night





Atmosphere[1]

The atmosphere of Mars has changed drastically during the planet’s history. The atmosphere has become thin which has caused the pressure to drop dramatically causing liquid water to become unstable. The cause of the loss of martian atmosphere is still unexplained and puzzles astronomers all over the world.

The martian atmosphere contains a much larger amount of carbon dioxide than on earth, at around 95.9%. The other abundant gases include oxygen (1.45%), Argon (0.0193%) and Nitrogen (0.0189%), as well as traces of carbon monoxide, neon and xeon.



UV-light

Pressure

Due to the loss of martian atmosphere a few billion years ago the pressure on Mars has also dropped. The pressure on Mars is now 600 pc which is only about 0.1% of the pressure on earth. However the pressure may also vary by as much as 25%.

Graph showing the change in pressure on Mars according to location. Source: http://www.mhhe.com/physsci/astronomy/fix/student/chapter11/11f34.html

Soil Composition

Mars Chamber [1]

Imagine being able to visit Mars on earth. With a press of a button you can change any variable, simulate any possible situation, and predict the future of Mars missions. This is not science fiction, but is achieved in the Mars Environmental Chamber at the Niels Bohr Institute.

The experiments are carried out in a so called Mars-chamber available at the University of Copenhagen under the research group ‘StarPlan’. The chamber consists of two units inside of each other: The outer unit is a big glovebox, which is accessed through an airlock which can be evacuated so that no unwanted atmospheric gasses (or moisture) can get in. Only the airlock is evacuated; the glovebox itself can handle a slightly reduced pressure, but usually a pressure (N2) is maintained inside, which is slightly higher than the outside pressure (in order to minimize the risk of leakage).

The chamber is designed to handle samples in an inactive gas (f.ex. N2 or Argon) before a sample from here is placed in a vacuum-chamber (the inner unit), which can be evacuated, supplied with a low-pressure Mars-like atmosphere (mainly CO2) and possible be heated, cooled, or irradiated by UV-light. The chamber cannot handle experiments of reduced or no gravity and also magnetic fields are difficult if the field has to be powerful or span a large volume.

Detaied image of the Mars Chamber. Credit: Rita Kajtar


Aim of Mars Chamber experiment:

Our aim is to test the survivability of moss by changing the following variables to simulate their presence on Mars:

  • Radiation + UV and cosmic
  • Pressure
  • Atmospheric composition

    Experiment protocols

    Pressure

    Samples are prepared under Optimal Growth Conditions™.
  • Earth-like pressure (negative control)
  • Martian-like pressure (best-case scenario)
  • Martian-like pressure (worst-case scenario)
  • Martian-like pressure made to mimic Earth-like conditions, with materials astronauts can bring with them
  • Growth Capsule

    • Samples are collected at t=(24)n hours, where n = 0 .. 7 Consider how the pressure and atmospheric conditions might stress moss growth. (It requires CO2 and O2 , but if the pressure drops too low it might not be able to harness such gasses for metabolism and photosynthesis.

    Atmospheric composition

    Samples are prepared under Optimal Growth Conditions™.
  • Earth-like composition
  • Martian-like composition
  • Martian-like composition made to mimic Earth-like conditions, with materials astronauts can bring with them
  • Growth Capsule
    • Should be noted how gasses behave at Martian temperature/pressure, to find the correct state of the gas in the phase-diagrams of the gas. Samples are collected at t=(24)n hours, where n = 0 .. 7

    UV radiation

    The goal is to test whether moss can survive the radiation it will receive on the surface of Mars.

    To set up radiation experiment, we set up Optimal Growth Conditions™ for the moss, but alter the radiation the moss will receive. This is done in the Mars Chamber, where we introduce a UV source, and vary the distance of the moss to the lamp, producing a UV gradient.

    Samples are collected at t=(24)n hours, where n = 0 .. 7

    Conclusion

    While we did not carry out these experiments due to time pressure and our main focus being the temperature variable which could not be tested in the Mars Chmaber, we will strongly suggest that next year's team carry out the experiments. The Mars Chamber is highly equipped to simulate the martian environment and the other variables that come into play when evaluating whether or not moss could survive on Mars.

    Looking into the Mars Chamber


    References:
    [1] Kajtar, Rita (2014).Mars Environmental Chamber for Simulation of Weathering Processes on Mars. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Copenhagen

    References:
    [1] Kajtar, Rita (2014).Mars Environmental Chamber for Simulation of Weathering Processes on Mars. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Copenhagen