Why did NASA launch yeast into space and not something else?

NASA was to launch Orion for the Artemis I mission on August 29, but the mission was canceled at the last minute. In addition to the information about the landing point, operation, and purpose, what interests many people most is why thousands of yeast samples were launched into space.

According to information from NASA, Artemis I's mission is to collect and provide the foundation for human space exploration, and demonstrate NASA's commitment and ability to ensure the survival of humans. people on the Moon and beyond.

One of the experiments aboard Artemis I was to see how yeast reacts to cosmic radiation.

Yeast is a very common single-celled microorganism thanks to its very high application in human life. There are thousands of species of yeast that are scientifically documented. Among them, the most popular is Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has been used to make wine, bread and beer for thousands of years.

Yeasts are also used in scientific, biological, genetic, and cellular research.

The yeast genome has many similarities with the human genome. The experiments will test the limits of human survival in space, where cosmic radiation is 20 to 50 times that of Earth's radiation.

Radiation in space is potentially fatal to humans. Future missions to the Moon and Mars expose astronauts to space radiation for months, even years.

Although the purpose of the yeast experiment in space is to discover drugs and other radiation-related therapies, its results will be a premise for research into how to help astronauts get to the stars. Fire safely

To test how organisms survive such danger, a shoebox-sized "box" called the BioSentinel will be launched from the rocket, fly over the Moon and into orbit orbits six to nine months around the Sun. On board will be microscopic samples of enamel, which will be constantly exposed to the onslaught of high-energy cosmic rays and solar particles.

Some of the devices on the BioSentinel will measure radiation intensity, while smaller ones, microfluidics tags, will monitor yeast growth, sending the data back to Earth.

"This is a really important mission. It will take the unfinished and learn from the unknown," Artemis I mission director Mike Sarafin said in a statement on NASA's website. .

Most previous research on yeasts has been done on Earth, by placing them in environments that simulate space. Thus, Artemis I will allow scientists to study how cosmic radiation affects creatures in space.

Therefore, the effect of cosmic radiation on yeast could lead to breakthrough discoveries in cancer treatment and radiation protection for astronauts on future space missions. future, specifically the goal of sending humans to Mars.