MSGID: 1:317/3 646d92e5   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    A deep underground lab could hold key to habitability on Mars    
      
     Date:   
         May 23, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of Birmingham   
     Summary:   
         Tunnels deep underground in North Yorkshire are providing a unique   
         opportunity to study how humans might be able to live and operate   
         on the Moon or on Mars.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
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   Tunnels deep underground in North Yorkshire are providing a unique   
   opportunity to study how humans might be able to live and operate on   
   the Moon or on Mars.   
      
   Researchers at the University of Birmingham have launched the Bio-SPHERE   
   project in a unique research facility located 1.1 km below the surface,   
   in one of the deepest mine sites in the UK. The project investigates how   
   scientific and medical operations would take place in the challenging   
   environments of the Moon and Mars.   
      
   It is the first of a series of new laboratory facilities planned to study   
   how humans might work -- and stay healthy -- during long space missions,   
   a key requirement for ensuring mission continuity on other planets.   
      
   The team is working in partnership with the Boulby Underground Laboratory,   
   a 4,000m3 deep underground facility focused on particle physics, Earth   
   sciences and astrobiology research, run by the Science and Technology   
   Facilities Council (part of UK Research and Innovation) with the support   
   of the Boulby Mine operators, ICL-UK.   
      
   The Bio-SPHERE project is based in a 3,000m3 tunnel network adjacent   
   to the Boulby Laboratory, which go through 250-million-year-old rock   
   salt deposits, consisting of Permian evaporite layers left over from   
   the Zechstein Sea. This geological environment, together with the deep   
   subsurface location, have enabled researchers to recreate the operational   
   conditions humans would experience working in similar caverns on the Moon   
   and Mars. This includes remoteness, limited access to new materials and   
   challenges in moving heavy equipment around.   
      
   At the same time, thanks to the ultra-low radiation environment provided   
   by that depth, the location will enable scientists to investigate how   
   effective underground habitats might be in protecting space crews from   
   deep-space radiation, which is a significant risk in space exploration,   
   as well as other hazards, such as falling debris from meteorites, which   
   risks damaging the life- support infrastructure.   
      
   The first facility to be opened as part of Bio-SPHERE (Biomedical   
   Sub-surface Pod for Habitability and Extreme-environments Research   
   in Expeditions), is based in a 3-metre-wide simulation module and is   
   designed specifically to test biomedical procedures needed to prepare   
   materials for treating tissue damage.   
      
   These include complex fluids, polymers and hydrogels for regenerative   
   medicine that could be used, for example, in wound dressings, or fillers   
   for damage mitigation.   
      
   A paper describing the concept and design of such a habitat was recently   
   published in Nature (NPJ) Microgravity.   
      
   Bio-SPHERE, which includes a range of capabilities for sterile work and   
   material processing, combines these simulation facilities and useful   
   geological environment with access to the adjacent physics and chemistry   
   laboratory facilities.   
      
   This environment provides the opportunity to simulate various mission   
   scenarios and to conduct cutting edge, interdisciplinary science, ranging   
   from the effects of extreme environments on biological and physicochemical   
   parameters and on medical infrastructure, all the way to investigating   
   how available 'in- situ' resources such as ambient pressure, temperature   
   and geology can be used for habitat construction.   
      
   Lead researcher Dr Alexandra Iordachescu, in the University of   
   Birmingham's School of Chemical Engineering, said: "We are excited to   
   be partnering with the fantastic science team at the Boulby Underground   
   Laboratory. This new capability will help to gather information that   
   can advise on the life support systems, devices and biomaterials which   
   could be used in medical emergencies and tissue repair following damage   
   in deep-space missions.   
      
   "These types of metrics can guide system design and help to assess   
   the scientific needs and acceptable timeframes in bioengineering   
   operations under the constraints of isolated environments, such as space   
   habitats. The data is likely to bring numerous benefits for Earth-based   
   applications as well, such as delivering biomedical interventions   
   in remote areas or in hazardous environments and more generally,   
   understanding biomedical workflows in these non-ideal environments."   
   Professor Sean Paling, Director and Senior Scientist at the Boulby   
   Underground laboratory said: "We are very pleased to be working with   
   Dr Iordachescu and the team from the University of Birmingham on this   
   exciting work. The challenges ahead for humankind in exploring habitats   
   beyond Earth are clearly many and significant. The Bio-SPHERE project   
   promises to help answer some key logistical questions in establishing   
   sustainable living conditions in remote, subterranean environments and   
   in doing so will significantly contribute to the essential preparations   
   for our collective long, difficult and exciting journey ahead. It is   
   also a great example of the diverse range of science studies that can   
   be carried out in a deep underground science facility, and we are very   
   happy to be hosting it."   
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Space_&_Time   
                   # Space_Missions # Space_Exploration # NASA # Space_Probes   
                   # Moon # Astronomy # Solar_System # Space_Station   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Phobos_(moon) o Mars_Exploration_Rover o Titan_(moon)   
             o Mars o Deimos_(moon) o Apollo_11 o Lunar_space_elevator   
             o Phoenix_(spacecraft)   
      
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   Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Birmingham. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Alexandra Iordachescu, Neil Eisenstein, Gareth Appleby-Thomas. Space   
         habitats for bioengineering and surgical repair: addressing the   
         requirement for reconstructive and research tissues during   
         deep-space missions. npj Microgravity, 2023; 9 (1) DOI:   
         10.1038/s41526-023-00266-3   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230523123840.htm   
      
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