RT, August
20, 2014
Russian scientists say they made a “unique” discovery while analyzing samples from the exterior of the International Space Station – traces of tiny sea creatures on the station’s windows and walls. It remains unclear how marine plankton ended up in space.
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| AFP Photo / NASA / HandoutAFP Photo / NASA / Handout |
Russian scientists say they made a “unique” discovery while analyzing samples from the exterior of the International Space Station – traces of tiny sea creatures on the station’s windows and walls. It remains unclear how marine plankton ended up in space.
The results
of the recent experiments prove that that some organisms are capable of living
on the outer surface of the International Space Station (ISS), Vladimir
Solovyev, head of the Russian segment of the ISS, has revealed.
Some
studies suggest that these organisms may even develop in the hostile conditions
of spaceflight, which include vacuum, low temperatures, radiation and others,
he added.
“The
results of the so-called ‘Test’ experiment are unique. On the surface of the
[ISS] windows we found traces of marine plankton – the microparticles – that
will become the subject of further studies,” Solovyev was quoted as saying by
Itar-Tass.
While the
experiments on the matter were finalized last year, it is still unclear how the
microparticles could get all the way to the ISS, Solovyev said.
“[Plankton
in] such phases of development is found on the surface of the ocean. It isn’t
characteristic to Baikonur,” he explained, referring to Baikonur Cosmodrome in
Kazakhstan from where crew and cargo deliveries to ISS are launched.
“It turns
out that there are some rising air currents, which settle on the surface of the
station,” Solovyev added.
The former
cosmonaut, who spent nearly a year in orbit back in the 1980s, said that outer
surface of ISS is “heavily contaminated” by the waste products from engines of
the arriving spacecraft, atmospheric discharges from the station during
spacewalks by the crew and other factors.
“We are
currently conducting special operations to be able to somehow to polish and
clean up the windows [at the ISS]. This is especially important during long
space flights,” Solovyev concluded.
The
assembly of the International Space Station began in 1998. Since then it has
spent nearly 6,000 days in Earth orbit.
Russia says
it has no plans to continue its partnership in the station after 2020, while
the US segment of the station is financed until 2024.
Russian
space agency Roscosmos has proposed using the ISS to commission modules for a
new space station, called OPSEK (Orbital Piloted Assembly and Experiment
Complex).
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