Russian scientists have invented a new way to search for life on Mars

Russian scientists have developed a New way to search for life on Mars and other celestial bodies of the Solar system by laser scanning the surface of a spacecraft or the landing station, told Last news the Director of the research Institute of nuclear physics named after D. Skobeltsyn, Moscow state University, Vice President of international division for space research Mikhail Panasyuk.

with the help of this device it is possible to investigate objects at a distance of hundreds of kilometers, but the method makes it possible to detect traces of life only on the surface, but under the earth, explained Panasyuk.

A new method, According to the scientist, will be tested in 2021 or 2022, when the orbit is expected to bring a small satellite to test a new way to search for life.

"We have developed a scientific instrument of very small size of the CubeSat 1U (1U CubeSat term represent the satellites With the size 10ÿ?10ÿ?10 cm - ed.) or 2U (size 10ÿ?10ÿ?20 cm - ed.) We will be able to launch it into space. The program very intensively, " said Panasyuk.

Inside the device in earth orbit would be biological objects that are most likely algae, which is expected to test the search technology of life.

in addition, told the scientist signed an agreement With Italian partners, who are engaged in astrobiology and developed a different but similar method is the search of life in space. They launch their own spacecraft with the assistance of the European space Agency in July of this year. Then two groups of scientists suggest to make a common companion format of 3U or 6U CubeSat, which will have Russian and Italian appliances.

The scientific work supporting this method search of life, published in the latest issue of " Space research ". In the creation of the method involved the Employees of the research Institute of nuclear physics. Skobeltsyn, Moscow state University, physical and biological departments of Moscow state University, Institute of physico-chemical biology. A. N. Belozersky MSU. Work conducted during the development of scientific equipment for the Russian spacecraft " boomerang ", which is supposed to explore Mars and to bring to Earth soil samples From Martian satellite Phobos.

the work proves that the landing station and Rover is not able to cover research in order to search for traces of life large square, And copters, balloons and airships depend on atmospheric density and winds of the studied planets. In this regard, the preferred is the location of the scanning devices on the spacecraft, exploring the right object on the span of the trajectory, or orbit. Although Russian scientists developed method is suitable for a search for life After landing on the planet lander.

considering that life on Earth originated from microorganisms, And some of them are able to withstand extreme rules, comparable to space, scientists have concluded that the search for traces of life in the Solar system in the 1st place should be guided to the search of protozoa.



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