The Search for Extraterrestrial Microorganisms on Cosmic Objects from Space

• Published in: Cosmic research Vol. 58; no. 4; pp. 242 - 248
• Main Authors: Garipov, G. K., Panasyuk, M. I., Svertilov, S. I., Konyukhov, I. V., Pogosyan, S. I., Rubin, A. B., Andreev, D. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.07.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astronomy; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Astrophysics and Cosmology; Biological activity; Fluorescence; Interstellar space; Microorganisms; Object recognition; Origin of life; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Planetary research; Planets; Radiation; Remote sensing; Research vehicles; Satellites; Searching; Solar system; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics
• ISSN: 0010-9525; 1608-3075
• DOI: 10.1134/S001095252004005X

The search for microorganisms in cosmic bodies of the Solar System is of great importance for understanding the problem of the origin of life. At present, it is difficult to create specialized laboratories searching for living microorganisms on the surface of planets or cosmic bodies that either formed in the Solar System or were captured by the Solar gravity from interstellar space. Existing experiments on search for life on landers and planet research vehicles allow this research to be conducted on the surface of planets and their satellites, but on a limited area near the landing site. This paper considers a method of remote sensing of outer space by light flashes of cosmic objects to detect bioactivity on almost all of their surfaces. The presence of bioactivity is the detected by specific luminescence of microorganisms when they are illuminated by probing radiation that causes their fluorescence.