EXPORT is an exobiology project led by the European Space Agency, that is planned to be deployed on the International Space Station to study the photo-processing of organic molecules and the survival of micro-organisms in space, as well as the effect of solar UV on unshielded organic molecules and micro-organisms. EXPORT will be located outside on the external facility of Columbus.
The payload consists of two independent instruments, EXPOSE and SPOrt. EXPOSE is an exobiology experiment that studies the photo-processing of organic molecules and the survival of micro-organisms in space, as well as the effect of solar UV on unshielded organic molecules and micro-organisms. The EXPOSE experiment has 12 sample compartments; each can carry a sample carrier. The second instrument, SPOrt (Sky Polarisation Observatory), is an astrophysical instrument to measure celestial polarisation in the unexplored microwave frequency range of 20–90 GHz.
The EXPOSE facility is mounted on the Coarse Pointing Device to allow a maximum Sun-viewing duration for the 12 sample compartments during an observation period of about 15 minutes. The payload will operate continuously for a period of 1.5 years.
Scientific research on the ISS
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