The vector of socio-natural evolution: from global to geospatial sustainability

The subject of this research research is the resolution of socio-natural contradiction, which consists in the fact that the growing needs of mankind are no longer satisfied by the biosphere, which can escalate into a planetary catastrophe. The resolution of this contradiction consists in the achievement of global sustainability that takes place in accordance with the certain “algorithms of development”, which opens horizons for a long-term and safer socio-natural evolution on Earth. The global world,  although becoming sustainable,  is not isolated from the space processes and factors due to the natural-spatial connection of the planet with its extraterrestrial environment, and even more so, due to the beginning of space exploration. Even the global world created in the future would not long endure without further sustainable space exploration; its longevity would require transition of the industrial complex in the outer space. Thus, the achievement of global sustainability will be accompanied by transition to an even safer type of evolution with focus on reaching geospatial sustainability. The further socio-natural evolution clearly indicated geospatial trend, which connects the vectors of global and extraterrestrial mainlines of sustainable development.

Functional Organization of Extraterrestrial Underground base on Mars

In the article relevant problems of colonization of other planets by mankind and development of extraterrestrial settlements are examined, in particular colonization of Mars and creation of Martian multifunctional base. Modern projects of leading space agencies for research and Mars colonization, shipping of equipment and the first settlers to the planet, and also projects of the first Martian habitats within the modern space technologies are discussed. In response to that natural and climatic conditions of the planet Mars which could substantially influence the formation and development of extraterrestrial multifunctional base are analyzed. Main natural and climatic factors such as high radiation background, absence of atmosphere, extreme temperature profile, low gravity, that have significant influence on formation of the Martian settlement on functional architectural and organizational levels are determined in the study. Functional model for establishment of an autonomic multifunctional base in extraterrestrial environment under the surface of the planet is proposed like the most fully satisfying the requirements for organization of extraterrestrial artificial environment for human's long-term stay considering extreme climate conditions of planet Mars and the desire to create comfortable conditions for livelihood of Martian pioneers. Basic blocks are determined and zones being parts of these blocks, which form the basis of the functional organization of extraterrestrial multifunctional complexes are detected. Possible options for functional connections between blocks and zones are analyzed.

Mini-Review: Probing the limits of extremophilic life in extraterrestrial environment-simulated experiments

Astrobiology is a relatively recent scientific field that seeks to understand the origin and dynamics of life in the Universe. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain life in the cosmic context throughout human history, but only now, technology has allowed many of them to be tested. Laboratory experiments have been able to show how chemical elements essential to life, such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen combine in biologically important compounds. Interestingly, these compounds are ubiquitous. How these compounds were combined to the point of originating cells and complex organisms is still to be unveiled by science. However, our 4.5 billion years old Solar system appeared in a 10 billion years old Universe. Thus, simple cells such as micro-organisms may have had time to form in planets older than ours or in other suitable places in the Universe. One hypothesis related to the appearance of life on Earth is called panspermia, which predicts that microbial life could have been formed in the Universe billions of years ago, travelling between planets, and inseminating units of life that could have become more complex in habitable planets such as Earth. A project designed to test the viability of extremophile micro-organisms exposed to simulated extraterrestrial environments is in progress at the Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics (UFRJ, Brazil) to test whether microbial life could withstand inhospitable environments. Radiation-resistant (known or novel ones) micro-organisms collected from extreme terrestrial environments have been exposed (at synchrotron accelerators) to intense radiation sources simulating Solar radiation, capable of emitting radiation in a few hours equivalent to many years of accumulated doses. The results obtained in these experiments reveal an interesting possibility of the existence of microbial life beyond Earth.