CPEU4 - Science - Inge Loes Ten Kate
Channel: Campus Party
Date: 2016-06-29

The search for extraterrestrial life and human exploration are two key areas that define future space missions. In both areas it is crucial to understand the planetary environment. Future life-detection missions would aim to search for (remnants of) microbial life. Microbial extraterrestrial life, however, may require a completely different environment than a human outpost. Microbes are resistant to a much wider range of conditions than humans. Studying microbes in all their habitats ranging from "normal" to "extreme" helps us to put constraints on planetary microbial habitability. "Normal" conditions, here, mean normal to us humans. These conditions define the constraints for human missions. In this case, however, the question will be: how do we design a mission that will keep humans safe from the conditions at the outpost. This presentation will teach you the basics of planetary habitability to get a feel for what is possible and what not for a future spacefaring generation.