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06/11/2012
This year will go into Earth orbit spacecraft Bion-M № 1. The crew of the new biosatellites formed at the Institute of Biomedical Problems. After a month of living organisms of the expedition returned to Earth in the descent capsule. The main objective of "Bion" - to confirm or refute the theory of "panspermia" that is placed on the life of our planet from outer space.
Meteorite or comet seeding life on Earth
The experiment, called "meteorite" that is conducted by scientists from the Institute of Biomedical Problems, probably will be one more proof that life originated beyond Earth.
Inside the small holes are different kinds of bacteria and fungi. Scientists zaplombiruyut hole, then attach to the outer skin of the spacecraft "Bion-M." And in space, for a month. The task - to see whether the microbes survive space travel. And most importantly - the most powerful overheating, which they are subjected to on the way home.
"The carrier passes through the atmosphere, where a significant overheating, which is so strong that it has a bactericidal action," - said Vyacheslav Ilyin, head of the Laboratory of Biomedical Problems.
Simulate the fall of the meteorite with microbes have tried before. A similar experiment was performed and the European microbiologists. However, when running the bacteria did not survive high temperatures. Russian scientists did not stop, chose the most heat resistant.
"We can say that 80 per cent once we approximate our understanding as to what brought life in our universe" - continues to Vyacheslav Ilyin.
Supporters of the hypothesis of "panspermia", that is the life of the entry space, more and more. One of the main arguments - found in some samples, meteorites, fossils of these microbes.
"If you can find the remains of an elephant or a dinosaur, you say that this is life. In the meteorites are remnants, of course, primitive bacteria. Meteorites are older, as a rule, our Earth, that is, life originated elsewhere and was brought in, "- says Alexei Rozanov, director of the Paleontological Museum. Yu.A.Yurlova.
Panspermia is the idea that life could travel between stars seeding
Hydrogen, carbon and oxygen - one of the most common chemical elements in the universe. Therefore, such an unusual surprising findings in meteorites, there is nothing, say scientists. Our carbon life is not such a unique thing.
"Water for life of the carbon is the most abundant compound in the Universe" - says Valery Galchenko, director of the Institute of Microbiology. SN Winogradsky.
However, what or who brought the microbes on Earth - the issue is still controversial. Someone says that life is not brought meteorites and comets, which is composed of water. Perhaps this controversy will allow the launch vehicle "Bion-M," which is scheduled for this year.
Bion-M:
Bion-M 1
Bion-M is the next generation of russian biological research satellites. While retaining the Vostok/Zenit-derived reentry module of the earlier Bion, the propulsion module has been replace by a Yantar type module, which provides maneuvering capabilities and longer mission support. The mission duration has been increased to up to 6 months by using solar cells for energy generation. The weight of scientific equipment has been increased by 100 kilograms.
Original text in Russian: http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=19190
Images, Text, Credits: TV Studio Space Agency / Roscosmos PAO / Translation: Orbiter.ch.
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