Difference between revisions of "Team:UNIK Copenhagen/Red Lab"
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<p>Testing if moss can survive in soil similar to Martian soil is an interesting experiment for two reasons: 1. Although it would be possible to bring a media for the moss to grow in, it would save launch mass if the moss could grow in the soil already present. 2. Mars soil contains perchlorate which is poisonous and moss could potentially be used to detoxify the martian soil and make it safe for astronauts.<br> | <p>Testing if moss can survive in soil similar to Martian soil is an interesting experiment for two reasons: 1. Although it would be possible to bring a media for the moss to grow in, it would save launch mass if the moss could grow in the soil already present. 2. Mars soil contains perchlorate which is poisonous and moss could potentially be used to detoxify the martian soil and make it safe for astronauts.<br> | ||
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| − | To test this we use the JSC-Mars-1-simulant soil which is as close as you get to actual Martian soil without leaving Earth.</p> | + | To test this we use the JSC-Mars-1-simulant soil which is as close as you get to actual Martian soil without leaving Earth. The image below shows the similarities between the two. The dotted line portrays actual measurements of the soil form the surface of Mars, while the solid line is the reflectivity spectra for JSC-Mars-1 simulant. Especially in the lower wavelengths the similarity is seen to be high. </p> |
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Revision as of 09:45, 5 July 2015
Red Lab
Mars Chamber
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 Mars Environmental Chamber simulates martian conditions in the laboratory and subjects samples to martian conditions.
The variables that we have control over in the Mars Chamber are:
We can go as low as 1-7 mbars to simulate the low pressure of a martian atmosphere.
Atmospheric composition:
We can simulate a martian atmosphere which unlike earth is made up of 98% CO2.
Temperature:
We can cause the same fluctuations in temperature that occurs on the surface of Mars: temperatures ranging from -120 degrees to 10 degrees
UV radiation:
By using a fluorescent lamp we can provide UV radiation between 200-400nm.
Soil composition:
By using the JSC-Mars-1-simulant soil we can simulate the actual Martian Soil and examine if our moss will grow.
Pressure
The pressure on the Martian surface is on averages only about 0.6% of Earth's mean sea level pressure of 101.3 kilopascals.
Atmospheric Composition
The Martian atmosphere consists of approximately 96% carbon dioxide, 1.9% argon, 1.9% nitrogen, and traces of free oxygen, carbon monoxide, water and methane, among other gases
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. The temperature on Mars may reach a high of about 20 degrees Celsius at noon, at the equator in the summer, but also low of about -153 degrees Celsius at the poles.
UV Radiation
The martian atmosphere is almost non-existent, having disappeared from the planet’s surface along with its magnetic field. Thus one of the greatest perils the moss will face is intense UV light, as there is no atmosphere to shield it. By changing the wavelength and intensity of UV light shining on the Mars Chamber we hope to see how we can optimize the moss’ survival when exposed to UV light.
Soil composition
Testing if moss can survive in soil similar to Martian soil is an interesting experiment for two reasons: 1. Although it would be possible to bring a media for the moss to grow in, it would save launch mass if the moss could grow in the soil already present. 2. Mars soil contains perchlorate which is poisonous and moss could potentially be used to detoxify the martian soil and make it safe for astronauts.
To test this we use the JSC-Mars-1-simulant soil which is as close as you get to actual Martian soil without leaving Earth. The image below shows the similarities between the two. The dotted line portrays actual measurements of the soil form the surface of Mars, while the solid line is the reflectivity spectra for JSC-Mars-1 simulant. Especially in the lower wavelengths the similarity is seen to be high.
JSC-Mars-1-simulant soil comes from the sadle area between the volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Big Island Hawaii. Team member Christina Toldbo went there to visit - check out the video below