Mining meteorites using microbes could be an effective way to extract precious metals in space, scientists say. This is the subject of an experiment on the International Space Station that examines how such mining in a low-gravity environment can support space exploration.
Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Edinburgh the study Based on the results of experiments conducted by NASA astronaut Michael Scott Hopkins. “This is probably the first experiment of its kind.” international space station about meteorites,” said Rosa Santomartino, a professor at Cornell University and lead author of the study. statement To the Cornell Chronicle.
The experiment used two different microorganisms to extract the meteorite: a bacterium called Sphingomonas decicabilis and the fungus Penicillium simplicissimum.
“These are two completely different species and extract different things,” Santomarinto said. “We needed to understand the what and how, as not much is known about the mechanisms that influence microbial behavior in space, but we wanted to relate our results to a broader picture.”
The microorganisms “mined” the specimen by producing carboxylic acids, which attached to minerals within the specimen. meteorite. The acid helps release the minerals into solution.
The researchers specifically wanted to see how the extraction method would work in space compared to how it works on Earth. Cornell University researcher Alessandro Stilpe said in the same statement that the method worked similarly in both environments, but there were some interesting differences.
It turned out that the space changed the microbial metabolism of the fungus, increasing the production of molecules containing carboxylic acids. “This facilitated the release of palladium as well as platinum and other elements,” the statement said.
The researchers cautioned that because of the large number of variables, their findings may not necessarily lead to firm conclusions. “I think another complex but very interesting result is the fact that the extraction rate varies greatly depending on the metal being considered, and also depending on the microorganism and gravity conditions,” Santomarinto said.
Resource production in space is becoming increasingly important as space companies and agencies consider ways to reduce the cost of long-duration space travel. One way to reduce costs is to mine materials in space rather than transporting them there. earth.
Some of the minerals that can be mined in space are extremely valuable. Palladium is a precious metal used in a variety of specialized applications in technology, and even very small amounts can be worth thousands of dollars.
for example, Astroforge We are one of the companies working on asteroid mining. However, Astroforge does not rely on microorganisms; Use lasers and magnets To extract minerals from asteroids.