EXPORT
Encyclopedia
EXPORT is an exobiology project led by the European Space Agency
, that is planned to be deployed on the International Space Station
to study the photo-processing of organic molecules and the survival of micro-organisms in space, as well as the effect of solar UV
on unshielded organic molecules and micro-organisms. EXPORT will be located outside on the external facility of Columbus
.
The payload consists of two independent instruments, EXPOSE and SPOrt. EXPOSE is an exobiology experiment that studies the photo-processing of organic molecules and the survival of micro-organisms in space, as well as the effect of solar UV on unshielded organic molecules and micro-organisms. The EXPOSE experiment has 12 sample compartments; each can carry a sample carrier. The second instrument, SPOrt (Sky Polarisation Observatory), is an astrophysical instrument to measure celestial polarisation in the unexplored microwave frequency range of 20–90 GHz.
The EXPOSE facility is mounted on the Coarse Pointing Device to allow a maximum Sun-viewing duration for the 12 sample compartments during an observation period of about 15 minutes. The payload will operate continuously for a period of 1.5 years.
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
, that is planned to be deployed on the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
to study the photo-processing of organic molecules and the survival of micro-organisms in space, as well as the effect of solar UV
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
on unshielded organic molecules and micro-organisms. EXPORT will be located outside on the external facility of Columbus
Columbus (ISS module)
Columbus is a science laboratory that is part of the International Space Station and is the largest single contribution to the ISS made by the European Space Agency ....
.
The payload consists of two independent instruments, EXPOSE and SPOrt. EXPOSE is an exobiology experiment that studies the photo-processing of organic molecules and the survival of micro-organisms in space, as well as the effect of solar UV on unshielded organic molecules and micro-organisms. The EXPOSE experiment has 12 sample compartments; each can carry a sample carrier. The second instrument, SPOrt (Sky Polarisation Observatory), is an astrophysical instrument to measure celestial polarisation in the unexplored microwave frequency range of 20–90 GHz.
The EXPOSE facility is mounted on the Coarse Pointing Device to allow a maximum Sun-viewing duration for the 12 sample compartments during an observation period of about 15 minutes. The payload will operate continuously for a period of 1.5 years.