World's Hardiest Organisms Face 3 Years in Space - Popular Mechanics

By Michael Milstein, Posted 03/06/09

Link: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/air_space/4295922.html?series=35

“When a Russian spacecraft sets off late in 2009 to scrape samples off the Martian moon Phobos, at least 10 of Earth’s toughest life-forms will be going along for the ride. The pioneering experiment, sponsored by the nonprofit Planetary Society, will test whether life can tolerate the deadly hazards of space for three years—long enough to hopscotch between planets.” How is this related to commercial space? This is one of the first studies to expose life to space for long durations beyond the magnetosphere that protects Earth from the worst radiation effects. Human habitation on the Moon for commercial purposes would also expose life to this high-energy radiation so this preliminary study can have broader value.