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Within the last 50 years, space technology has provided tools for transporting terrestrial life beyond this protective magnetic field in order to study in situ responses to selected conditions of space. From a biological perspective applicable to simple and complex organisms (ranging from biomolecules and microorganisms to humans) various influential physical modifications such as increased radiation exposure are experienced onboard an orbiting spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO), out- and inside the International Space Station (ISS), orbiting Moon or on the way to other astrobiological-interesting targets (Mars or icy moons). The majority of experiments on microorganisms in space were performed using Earth-orbiting robotic spacecraft or human-tended spacecraft, such as space shuttles and space stations. In-depth knowledge regarding the biological effects of the radiation field in space is required for assessing radiation risks to any life form in space. To obtain this knowledge, different microbial species have been studied as radiobiological model systems in space and on the ground. This session is aimed to give an overview on past, recent and future spaceflight and ground-based astrobiological experiments.

Early integration of science and exploration concerns into the design of the Deep Space Gateway (DSG) is essential to maximizing its science and exploration potential. The proposed concept, characterization of outer space radiation induced changes in microbial extremophiles, requires the DSG as infrastructure supplying power, communications, etc. to otherwise autonomous systems. Survival and proliferation of life beyond low earth orbit (LBLEO) can be accomplished by exposing extremophilic microorganisms in outer space radiation (OSR) conditions using DSG system. Extremophilic microbial survival, adaptation, biological functions, and molecular mechanisms associated with outer space radiation can be tested by exposing them onto DSG hardware (inside/outside) utilizing the traditional microbiology methods and state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques.

One-way LR (Laser Ranging) is being performed routinely from ILRS (International Laser Ranging Service) ground stations to LOLA (Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter), onboard NASA’s LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter). From the accurate range measurements, spacecraft orbits and parameters of the lunar gravity field can be modeled. Furthermore, the data can be used for monitoring the long-term behavior of the LRO clock and for precisely referencing the MET (Mission Elapsed Time) to TDB (Barycentric Dynamical Time). We present the current status of our effort to process, analyze and use selected LR data for LRO clock characterization, orbit determination and gravity field estimation.