As part of the lunar program "Artemis", it is planned to send Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast to deep space in 2020 and expose them to long-term (9-12 months) exposure to solar radiation outside the protective magnetic field of our planet, space.com reports

For the organization of the study, engineers developed the mini-satellite BioSentinel "the size of a portfolio" and weighing about 14 kg. Together with the other 12 “space cubes” intended for various studies, this device will become part of the payload of the Orion spacecraft, built to implement the renewed American lunar program.

  • The BioSentinel microfluidic map developed by NASA Ames will be used to study the effects of interplanetary cosmic radiation on yeast.
  • NASA

The “passengers” of the mini-satellite will be two types of Baker's yeast - regular and genetically modified (with a weakened protection from radiation). Similar samples will be delivered to the International Space Station and to a number of ground laboratories. During the entire flight, scientists will monitor the reproduction of the same fungi both on Earth and on the ISS and in deep space. A comparison of the data obtained will allow us to determine which changes are caused by solar radiation, and which - by microgravity in near-earth orbit or other factors.

“It is important to note that the process of yeast DNA recovery after radiation injury is very similar to that of humans. The results of the study will be crucial for assessing and reducing the risk of long-term human exposure to cosmic radiation, ”the project newsletter says.

At the moment, the mini-satellite BioSentinel is in the process of assembly, the completion of works is scheduled for the end of October 2019. Other mini-satellites that Orion’s first spacecraft into the deep space are the Lunar Flashlight and Lunar IceCube, designed to search for traces of ice on the lunar surface, as well as a small reconnaissance ship with a photon sail (using sunlight pressure), which will be sent to one of the asteroids.

  • Spaceship "Orion"
  • NASA

Recall that the lunar program "Artemis" for the return of NASA astronauts to the moon by 2024 was named by analogy with the American program of manned space flight Apolnon adopted in 1961 (Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo and the goddess of the Moon in ancient Roman mythology). The purpose of the program is the landing of the first woman and the next man on the surface of the natural satellite of the Earth. The multipurpose partially reusable Orion spacecraft has been developed since the mid-2000s for delivering people and cargo to the ISS, as well as for flights to the Moon and Mars.