Lichen can survive in hostile space conditions

Paris : You can freeze it, thaw it, vacuum dry it and expose it to radiation, but lichen can still survive.

In 2008, scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) sent a suitcase-sized Expose-E experiment package to the International Space Station (ISS) filled with organic compounds and living organisms to test their reaction to outer space.

The samples returned to Earth in 2009. Lichen have proven to be tough cookies – back on Earth, some species continue to grow normally. ESA’s Rene Demets explains: “These organisms go into a dormant state waiting for better conditions to arrive.”

The lichen have attracted interest from cosmetic companies. They can survive the full power of the Sun for 18 months, so knowing more could lead to new ingredients for sunscreen, the journal Astrobiology reports.

Living organisms surviving in open space supports the idea of ‘panspermia’ — life spreading from one planet to another, or even between solar systems. It seems possible that organisms could colonize planets by hitching rides on asteroids.

ESA is probing this intriguing theory further on future Station missions with different samples, according to an ESA statement.

When astronauts venture on a spacewalk, hours are spent preparing protective suits to survive the hostile conditions. However, no effort was made to protect the bacteria, seeds, lichen and algae attached to the outside of the space station.

Our atmosphere does a wonderful job of protecting life on Earth by absorbing harmful UV rays and keeping temperatures relatively stable. Conversely, the space samples endured the full power of the Sun’s rays.

The samples were insulated somewhat by the space station but still had to cope with temperatures changing from -12.C to +40.C over 200 times as they orbited Earth.