Planetary Atmospheres and Surface simulation Chamber (PASC): A platform for planetary exploration and astrobiology applications
Authors: Mateo-Marti Eva 
Published: July 2021

&lt;p&gt;Even though space missions provide fundamental and unique knowledge for planetary exploration, they are always costly and extremely time-consuming. Due to the obvious technical and economical limitations for &lt;em&gt;in-situ&lt;/em&gt; planetary exploration; laboratory simulations are one of the most feasible research options to make advances both in planetary science and in a consistent description of the origin of life.&amp;#160; Planetary Atmosphere and Surfaces Chamber (PASC) are able to simulated atmosphere and surface temperature for the majority of the planetary objects and they are especially appropriate to study physico-chemical and biological changes induced in a particular sample due to in-situ irradiation in a controlled environment (1). Number of relevant applications in planetary exploration will be described in order to provide an understanding about the potential and flexibility of planetary simulation chambers systems: mainly, stability and presence of certain minerals on Mars surface; photochemistry process on molecules and microorganisms potential habitability under planetary environmental conditions would be studied. Furthermore, UV-photocatalytic process on mineral surfaces has shown species potential fixation (2-6). Therefore, simulation chambers assess several multidisciplinary and challenging planetary and astrobiological studies. Furthermore, will be a promising tools and necessary platform to design future planetary space mission and to validate in-situ measurements from orbital or rover observations.&lt;/p&gt;
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