Searching for extraterrestrial life and supporting human life in space are traditionally regarded as separate challenges. However, there are significant benefits to an approach that treats them as different aspects of the same essential problem: How can we conceptualize life beyond our home planet?
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ApaiD, MilsterTD, KimD, et al.Nautilus Space Observatory: A very large aperture space telescope constellation enabled by scalable optical manufacturing technologies. In: SPIE Optical Manufacturing and Testing XIV, 2022; 12221; pp. 59–71; doi: 10.1117/12.2633184
2.
AvereschNJH, BerlinerAJ, NangleSN, et al.Microbial biomanufacturing for space-exploration—what to take and when to make. Nat Commun, 2023; 14(1):2311; doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-37910-1
3.
BartlettNW, TolleyMT, OverveldeJTB, et al.SOFT ROBOTICS. A 3D-printed, functionally graded soft robot powered by combustion. Science, 2015; 349(6244):161–165; doi: 10.1126/science.aab0129
4.
BerlinerAJ, HilzingerJM, AbelAJ, et al.Towards a biomanufactory on Mars. Front Astron Space Sci, 2021; 8:711550; doi: 10.3389/fspas.2021.711550
5.
BrooksR, FlynnA. Fast, Cheap and out of control: A robot invasion of the solar system. Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, 1989; 42:478–485.
6.
Caro-AstorgaJ, MeyerowitzJT, StorkDA, et al.Polyextremophile engineering: A review of organisms that push the limits of life. Front Microbiol, 2024; 15:1341701; doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1341701
CockellCS, SantomartinoR, FinsterK, et al.Space station biomining experiment demonstrates rare earth element extraction in microgravity and Mars gravity. Nat Commun, 2020; 11(1):5523; doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19276-w
9.
ColwellFS, D’HondtS. Nature and extent of the deep biosphere. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 2013; 75(1):547–574; doi: 10.2138/rmg.2013.75.17
10.
CottinH, KotlerJM, BilliD, et al.Space as a tool for astrobiology: Review and recommendations for experimentations in Earth orbit and beyond. Space Sci Rev, 2017; 209(1–4):83–181; doi: 10.1007/s11214-017-0365-5
11.
DysonF. Disturbing the Universe. Harper & Row: New York; 1979.
12.
ElvisM, KrolikowskiA, MilliganT. Concentrated lunar resources: Imminent implications for governance and justice. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci, 2021; 379(2188):20190563; doi: 10.1098/rsta.2019.0563
13.
FrankA, GrinspoonD, WalkerS. Intelligence as a planetary scale process. International Journal of Astrobiology, 2022; 21(2):47–61; doi: 10.1017/S147355042100029X
14.
Hartmann, F., Baumgartner, M. and Kaltenbrunner, M., 2021. Becoming sustainable, the new frontier in soft robotics. Advanced Materials, 33(19); doi: 10.1002/adma.202004413
MaKY, ChirarattananonP, FullerSB, et al.Controlled flight of a biologically inspired, insect-scale robot. Science, 2013; 340(6132):603–607; doi: 10.1126/science.1231806
17.
MarblestoneA, GamickA, KalilT, et al.Unblock research bottlenecks with non-profit start-ups. Nature, 2022; 601(7892):188–190; doi: 10.1038/d41586-022-00018-5
18.
MasonCE, GreenJ, AdamopoulosKI, et al.A second space age spanning omics, platforms and medicine across orbits. Nature, 2024; 632(8027):995–1008; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07586-8
19.
MosesMS, ChirikjianGS. Robotic self-replication. Annu Rev Control Robot Auton Syst, 2020; 3(1):1–24; doi: 10.1146/annurev-control-071819-010010
20.
NangleSN, WolfsonMY, HartsoughL, et al.The case for biotech on Mars. Nat Biotechnol, 2020; 38(4):401–407; doi: 10.1038/s41587-020-0485-4
21.
PetersenJM, ZielinskiFU, PapeT, et al.Hydrogen is an energy source for hydrothermal vent symbioses. Nature, 2011; 476(7359):176–180; doi: 10.1038/nature10325
22.
QuanzSP, OttigerM, FontanetE, et al.; the LIFE Collaboration. Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE)-I. Improved exoplanet detection yield estimates for a large mid-infrared space-interferometer mission. A&A, 2022; 664:A21; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202140366
23.
SantomartinoR, AvereschNJ, BhuiyanM, et al.Toward sustainable space exploration: A roadmap for harnessing the power of microorganisms. Nat Commun, 2023; 14(1):1391; doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-37070-2
24.
SeagerS, PetkowskiJJ, CarrCE, et al.; on behalf of the Venus Life Finder Mission Team. Venus Life Finder habitability mission: Motivation, science objectives, and instrumentation. Aerospace, 2022; 9(11):733; doi: 10.3390/aerospace9110733
25.
VirgiliBB, DoladoJC, LewisHG, et al.Risk to space sustainability from large constellations of satellites. Acta Astronautica, 2016; 126:154–162; doi: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2016.03.034
26.
WordsworthR, CockellC. Self-sustaining living habitats in extraterrestrial environments. Astrobiology, 2024; 24(12):1187–1195; doi: 10.1089/ast.2024.0080
