Shubhanshu Shukla to take tardigrades on ISS mission; what are they, and why are scientists fascinated by the eight-legged ‘water bears'
Source: NASA
Indian astronaut
Shubhanshu Shukla
prepares for his two-week mission aboard the
International Space Station
(ISS), from other scientific experiments one of the most intriguing is that he will undertake some of the tiniest yet toughest organisms on Earth tardigrades. This experiment, known as the
Voyager Tardigrades mission
, will explore how these microscopic creatures survive, reproduce, and repair themselves in the harsh environment of space.
The Voyager
Tardigrades
experiment isn't just about observing resilient lifeforms, but it is about preparing for the future of human space exploration. If scientists can unlock the biological secrets that allow tardigrades to thrive in hostile environments, it could revolutionise space medicine, genetics, biomaterials, and even cryopreservation.
What are tardigrades - the 'water bears' of the microbial world
Tardigrades
, affectionately known as
'water bears' or 'moss piglets,'
are aquatic micro-animals with a history that predates the dinosaurs by around 400 million years. They first emerged approximately 600 million years ago and have survived all five of Earth's mass extinction events. These creatures are tiny around 0.5 mm long with eight legs, each ending in claw-like structures, and a mouth specialised for extracting nutrients from plant cells, algae, and tiny invertebrates. Tardigrades thrive in extreme environments, from deep ocean trenches to mountaintops, but are most commonly found in the thin films of moisture on mosses and lichens, hence the nickname "moss piglets."
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Why are scientists so interested to study 'tardigrades'
Although first discovered in 1773 by German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze, tardigrades have attracted growing scientific interest in recent decades. Their resilience to extreme conditions is nothing short of astonishing:
Survive temperatures from -272.95°C to 150°C
Endure extreme radiation, the vacuum of space, and crushing pressures
Live after being frozen for 30 years
Understanding these survival mechanisms could have practical applications in various fields from preserving human organs for transplants to developing radiation-resistant materials, hardier crops, and even advanced sunscreens.
What makes tardigrades so special
Tardigrades owe their remarkable survival skills to a biological process known as cryptobiosis, a near-complete shutdown of metabolic functions in response to environmental stress. One key form, anhydrobiosis, allows them to lose more than 95% of their body water, entering a dry, shrunken state known as a tun.
In this tun state, tardigrades produce unique proteins, such as cytoplasmic-abundant heat soluble (CAHS) proteins. These proteins create a gel-like matrix inside cells, protecting DNA and other cellular components by vitrifying them, or turning them into a glass-like state.
What is the Voyager Tardigrades experiment
The Voyager Tardigrades experiment will involve sending tardigrades to the ISS in their dormant tun state. Once in orbit, scientists will rehydrate and revive them to study how space radiation and microgravity affect their biology. The main objective is to identify genes and molecular mechanisms that allow tardigrades to repair DNA and maintain function in space. These insights could be instrumental in:
Protecting astronauts from radiation during long-duration missions
Preventing muscle and bone loss in zero gravity
Preserving biological materials during extended space travel
Have tardigrades been sent to space before
Yes. Tardigrades have a track record in space. In 2007, about 3,000
water bears
were sent aboard the European Space Agency's Foton-M3 mission. The creatures were kept in turn inside a small capsule, whose lid opened to expose them directly to space. After returning to Earth and being rehydrated, many of the tardigrades were found to have survived and some even reproduced successfully. While UV radiation reduced survival rates slightly, the experiment showed that the vacuum of space alone was not lethal to them. This historic test made tardigrades the first known animals to survive direct exposure to outer space without the protection of a spacecraft or spacesuit.
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