Studying the Phenomenon of Dormancy: Why it is Important for Space Exploration

Abstract

Investigations to forward the use of animal and plant anabiosis, e.g. cryptobiosis and some other forms of dormancy, in space exploration highlight five notable programs on exobiology. The authors give an outline of each program and list the biological species from bacteria to vertebrates and higher plants that have a resting phase within the life cycle and have been selected for in-space studies. Biomedical support of humans in the absence of factors important to sustenance and development of every living thing is one of the indisputable aspects of space exploration. A critical aspect of the biomedical support framework is creation of the central ecological life support systems (CELSS) and, therefore, investigations in this area are no less important than designing space vehicles. Development of life support systems (LSS), including systems incorporating the biological cycle, has been pursued since the initial space flights of cosmonauts. The ground-based test experiment with CELSS performed in the USSR in the period from the early 1960s to 1980s demonstrated that, though simple in design, these systems were capable of regenerating atmosphere, water, and food and thus adequately provided the necessities of human subjects (Gitelson et al. 1975; Shepelev 1975; Meleshko & Shepelev 1996; Sychev et al. 2002, 2003). Implementation of CELSS for space crews requires prior all-around tests and studies in order to: ● Determine the biological impacts of the space flight factors on the life of individual organisms, as well as communities (populations and biocenoses) ● Develop technologies for cultivating highly productive populations of autotrophs and heterotrophs in the zero-gravity environment ● Design hardware to sustain the vital functions of autotrophs and heterotrophs as members of space crew CELSS ● Search for methods to preserve the gene pool aboard the space vehicle and on the planetary outposts ● Optimize CELSS with consideration for microgravity and constant radiation exposure According to the results of CELSS-related investigations in space flight, microgravity impedes tremendously both functioning of the biological systems components and their integration into a uniform system. There are some hardware and technologies that can make up for the lack of gravity; yet, some problems cannot be resolved technically. Modeling of even simplified ecosystems for remote planetary outposts, e.g. on Mars, instantly raises the issue of long-term transportation of the whole