Expose – R Evolution of Organic Matter in Space (Expose-R- Organic)
Research Area: Astrobiology
Expedition(s): 18- 26
Principal Investigator(s): ● Pascale Ehrenfreund, PhD, The George Washington University,
Washington, DC
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Expose-R facility hosts a suite of astrobiology experiments, some of which could help
understand how life originated on Earth. This suite of experiments are accommodated in 3
special sample trays, which are loaded with a variety of biological samples and exposed to the
harsh environment of open space for
almost 2 years from March 2009-January
- Expose-R- Organic monitors survival,
destruction, and chemical changes of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
and fullerenes in space environment.
Monitoring the behavior of these
molecules upon space exposure will allow
researchers to determine constraints on
the photochemistry of these compounds
in the interstellar medium.
RESULTS
Results from Expose-R-Organic are pending completion of analysis and data evaluation before
conclusive results are prepared and published.
This investigation is complete; however additional results are pending publication.
ISS018E039266 – View of Expose-R as it is being set up
with Earth in the background.