2014.A.1.4 Interplanetary ‘Bioscience’ Mission Initiative with Cubesat-Platform Technology

Author(s)

Tae-Sung Yoon (1)
Sunghyun Kang (1)

KRIBB, Korea

Session

A.1

Keywords

extraterrestrial, life, bioscience, interplanetary, cubesat

Abstract

CubeSat has been demonstrated as an emerging technology platform for bioscience with the launches of GeneSat-1, PRESat, PhamaSAT and O/OREOS all of which were led by NASA Ames Research Center and its collaboration with universities. Recently, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) has sponsored the “University” cubesat competitions in Korea for national cubesat-platform technology developments while Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology (KRIBB) has sponsored its bio-convergence research initiative using space environment such as International Space Station (ISS) through its international collaboration. We hope that cubesat-platform bioscience satellite missions will complement ISS-platform bioscience missions. With the growing interests for Lunar and Martian exploration programs, cubesats may also provide cost-effective and alternative test beds for the investigation of biological effects under such space environments. Moreover, interplanetary cubesats may provide unique opportunities (which are not possible with ISS environments) to explore the origin of life and to enable the transfer of ‘earthly’ life into ‘extraterrestrial’ space. Based on the maturity of cubesat-platform technology and growing interests in interplanetary missions, we would like to discuss the possible ‘bioscience’ mission concepts.