Tardigrades In Space (TARDIS): Tardigrade samples delivered to ESA for integration into Biopan-6!

What is the aim of TARDIS?

Why should we send dry aquatic invertebrates into space, an environment that certainly is not normal for these animals? There are many answers to this question. One would be: to see if these animals, as the first ever, are able to cope with the extremely dry conditions of deep vacuum and the harmful solar and galactic radiation up there. In the past, several biologists have suggested that tardigrades may be one of the few animals that have a chance to come back alive after a trip in real space. Finally we will be able to find out if this is true.

At a more mechanistic biological level, exposure of organisms to space conditions will reveal how living cells react to the potentially very stressful impact of space parameters. And organisms that can handle the damaging space parameters will be important sources of knowledge for how to generate the space ecosystems that will be necessary for the more permanent human establishments in space that is envisaged today.

The TARDIS experiment consists of two sets of samples: one set exposed to both space vacuum and solar radiation, and another set exposed to space vacuum only. All tardigrade specimens included in the study are in a dry, anhydrobiotic state. Species included are: Richtersius coronifer, Milnesium tardigradum, Echiniscus testudo, Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri. These are all known to be very tolerant to desiccation.

Once on the ground again, these samples will be analysed for survival and reproductive potential, and for damage on DNA.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Tardigrade samples delivered to ESA for integration into Biopan-6!

Yesterday, 6 September, the TARDIS hardware with samples were delivered to the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) south of Amsterdam. Integration of all scientific hardware are now taking place.
One week from now, on 14 September, the first tardigrades in history will experience real space conditions.

5 kommentarer:

georg said...: this is a very fascinating project. i am very excited in following your TARDIS-mission...good luck!; September 23, 2007 6:16 PM
qarlo999 said...: This is a very exciting project. Tardigrades have always been fascinating to me - the way they look, the way they move, the way they finally got their own phylum (I have a book - a reprint of a zoology text from 1935 - which places them in the same phylum as arthropoda, the fools!).

Question - do your tests show if the tardigrades can simply survive the rigors of exposure to space, or if they can do actual work (move around, stay active), etc.?; September 26, 2007 7:26 PM
qarlo999 said...: Oh, sorry. Re-read your post. The tardigrades will be sent already dried. Makes sense.; September 26, 2007 7:28 PM
SmarterDeals said...: www.SmarterDeals.com is a leading price comparison website created with keeping the Computer and Electronics shoppers in

mind. Here, Shoppers can search, compare, and save on popular Computer Hardware, Software, and Electronic products.

In addition to a highly targeted price comparison site, www.SmarterDeals.com offers Daily Deals. Within this section, savvy

shoppers can find the latest product rebates, coupons, and deals offered by multiple merchants.

Moreover, www.SmarterDeals.com has made it simple for merchants to join and post their entire catalog for shoppers to search

and compare prices. Merchants can login and submit their data feed including detailed pricing information that is updated daily.

Last but not least, www.SmarterDeals.com is a price comparison engine to compare price for Computer Hardware, Software,

Electronics, Digital Camera, Camcorder, Camcorder Accessories, Computer Cables and Accessories, Games, Xbox 360, DVD Player, Cellphone Accessories, GPS, GPS

Accessories, Video Recorder, Notebook Accessories, Flash Memory & Readers, Motherboard Accessories, PDA Accessories.; January 22, 2008 12:47 PM
Gadgets Tech said...: If you wonder how they look like, see Tardigrade Science Video; January 27, 2009 8:12 PM