EXTREMOON - Investigating the responses of terrestrial EXTRE mophiles and their molecules in MOON environment

EXTREMOON is a space exposure experiment designed to test the biological sensitivity of active terrestrial extremophiles and associated macromolecules to the lunar environment. The objective of the experiment is to acquire knowledge on:

i) the survival of microorganisms and their ability to recover from radiation exposure under lunar environmental conditions (radiation and reduced gravity);

ii) their activity under the conditions present in the lunar environment.

The proposed experiment fits within the European Space Agency (ESA) lunar strategy aimed at understanding the effects of the lunar environment on biological systems, thereby contributing to our knowledge of both microbial survival and biomolecule stability in support of future missions.

Principal Investigator is Prof.  Daniela Billi (University of Tor Vergata)

Other partners are Michele Balsamo, Antonio Bardi, John Robert Brucato, Donato Giovannelli, Nicoletta LaRocca