Mosses are believed to have evolved from ancestral plants that transitioned from aquatic environments to terrestrial habitats approximately 450 million years ago.
This organism is known for its remarkable hardiness, thriving in diverse locations, from the frigid Antarctic tundra to the lofty peaks of the Himalayas, as well as in volcanic lava fields and various aquatic settings.
Fujita expressed his admiration for its extraordinary resilience.
“It got me thinking: Could this resilient little plant endure the harsh conditions of space?” he remarked.
His research team focused on a specific type of moss known as Physcomitrium patent. They conducted experiments in a laboratory simulating a space environment, exposing the moss to extreme temperatures, vacuum conditions, and elevated levels of ultraviolet radiation.
They concluded that the moss’ sporophyte, which contains the encapsulated spores that act as reproductive structures, stands the best chance of survival in space due to its ability to endure high levels of ultraviolet light. The spores were able to germinate after enduring scorching conditions of 131 degrees Fahrenheit for a month and frigid temperatures of minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit for over a week.
In March 2022, researchers dispatched hundreds of moss sporophytes to the International Space Station using a cargo spacecraft from Northrop Grumman. Astronauts attached the sporophyte samples to the station’s exterior and left them exposed for 283 days.
The moss samples were subsequently returned to Earth on a SpaceX cargo mission in January 2023.
The team discovered that over 80% of the spores survived their nine-month journey outside the space station, with nearly 90% successfully re-germinating in their Earth-based laboratory.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
