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Abstract EANA2024-88


Investigating the responses of terrestrial EXTREmophiles and their molecules in MOON environment – EXTREMOON

Pacelli C. (1), Balsamo M. (2), Billi D. (3), Brucato J.R. (4), Cassaro A. (1), Donati A. (2), Giovannelli D. (5), La Rocca N. (6), Lorenz C. (7,2), Popova L. (2), Zucconi L. (8)
(1) Italian Space Agency, Rome, Italy, (2) Kayser Italia s.r.l., Livorno, Italy, (3) University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, (4) INAF Arcetri, Florence, Italy, (5) University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy, (6) University of Padova, Padova, Italy, (7) Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy, (8) University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy


EXTREMOON is a space exposure experiment aimed at testing the biological sensitivity of active terrestrial extremophiles and their associated macromolecules to the lunar environment, selected in the frame of the ESA AO 2022 “Reserve Pool of Science Activities for the Moon: A SciSpacE Announcement of Opportunity”. The aim of the experiment is to get knowledge about i) survival and recovery of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms in the lunar environment (reduced gravity and high radiation environment); ii) their activity at the conditions found on the lunar environment. The proposed experiment fits the European Space Agency (ESA) lunar strategy to understand the effects of the lunar environment on cell biology, and therefore will contribute to our knowledge both in terms of microbial survival and biomolecules stability to support future exploration. This is a new horizon for biology exposure experiments that will allow a complete novel understanding of the responses of biological systems to space environment; thus, allowing also to support future long-term manned exploration missions, since the selected microorganisms can be used as part of bioregenerative life support systems and/or biomining activities.