Geobiology in Space Exploration
An ESA/Global Topical Team
Microbes and rocks – the planetary scale picture
Microbial interactions with rocks important for:
1. Long term climate cycle (weathering reactions consume
carbon dioxide).
2. Soil formation
3. Nutrients to the biosphere
4. Biomining
5. Searching for and identifying life in extreme
environments
Applications of geobiology in space
Space Applications
Advantages of Microbes
 Can be specific and efficient catalysts
 Can be resistant to extreme environments
 Have very diverse metabolic capabilities
 Low energy requirements
Disadvantages of Microbes
Susceptible to contamination by other strains
 Can die
 Sometimes growth conditions are quite specific
The flow of information can work both ways
- Isolation of useful novel extreme tolerant organisms
-Testing of experimental apparatus
-Testing of scientific hypotheses in diverse scientific environments
Objectives of Topical Team
1) Encourage the development of a community.
2) Identify potential applications.
3) Define technical objectives and develop mission plans.
Activities so far
 Started in 2009
 First meeting in May 6th, 2009, ESTEC, Netherlands
 Second meeting, January 18th 2010, ESTEC, Netherlands
 Third meeting, February 2011, Marrakech, Morocco
Projects include:
 Geobiology in Space Exploration workshop
 Developing guidance for ESA (and other agencies) on geobiology
 Design of ISS experiment: E-GEM (Extraterrestrial Geomicrobiology
Package).
Extraterrestrial Geomicrobiology Package (E-GEM)
 To study microbe-mineral interactions in space stress and
altered gravity
 Investigate efficiency of weathering reactions
 Develop prototype biomining apparatus
 Experiment went in to review . Scored 85/100
 Now into definition phase for flight
Geobiology in Space Exploration
7-15 February, Marrakech, 2011
 53 attendees
2.5 days of talks
 Break-out groups
 Substantial 4 day field trip
Geobiology in Space Exploration 2
2013
Possible locations
Janet Siefert - Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico
Julio Valdivia Silva - Peru
Volcanic Environment Microbial Observatory
www.volcaniclife.org
Questions
Microbes in Volcanic Habitats
 Who are the first colonizers?
 What is the distribution of chemolithotrophs?
 Which organisms are active in weathering?
 What does this tell us about life elsewhere?
Cold Temperatures
 Volcanic environment
 Basaltic rocks
Fe3+
Geobacter spp.
Fe2+
Gallionella spp.
Molecular diversity of bacteria
Herrera, A. 2009 et al. Astrobiology 9, 369-38
Cockell, CS et al. 2009 Geobiology 7, 5-65
Kelly, L et al. 2010 Microb. Ecol. 60, 740-752
Sampling of microbial diversity
Dig Here
Follow the Kinetics
What’s needed?
 Common organism collections
 Common methodologies/protocols
 Exchange schemes for scientists
 Sample distribution/analysis