Objectif Mars

I am thrilled to share I started an internship on Radiation Microbiology within the HRE-HS team at for the European Space Agency - ESA! 🚀✨

🗒️ Over the next six to nine months, I will build a roadmap detailing how radioresistant microorganisms (e.g., spore-forming bacteria, melanin-producing fungi, etc.) could support long-term human space exploration.

🙏 I will be working under the guidance of Dr. Melike Balk and Dr. Piers Jiggens, and to learn from the many experts of the Human and Robotic Exploration - Human Science (HRE-HS) directorate. I thank them wholeheartedly for their warm welcome, and I am looking forward to contributing meaningfully to their exciting activities!

🎓 This internship is performed under the framework of the Master of Space Studies at KU Leuven, Belgium, under support from the ESA Academy Scholarship Programme. Many thanks to them for making this opportunity possible!

Ad Astra! 🌌🔭

Last November, Master thesis project concluded its expedition at the Mars Desert Research Station (The Mars Society, Utah, 🇺🇸) as part of ! 🚀🔴

⬅️ Previously, 𝑅𝑠. 𝑟𝑢𝑏𝑟𝑢𝑚 was studied in photo𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼trophic conditions at AATC's lunar habitat (Analog Astronaut Training Center, Krakow, 🇵🇱).

⬇️ At MDRS, the photo𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼trophic growth of 𝑅ℎ𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑝𝑠𝑒𝑢𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑠 𝑇𝐼𝐸-1 was investigated within low-cost bag photobioreactors filled with hydrogen gas produced through electrolysis. The bioreactors returned to the Proteomic and Microbiology Department (ProtMic) at UMONS in perfect condition once again, reaffirming the reliability of our low-cost setup in remote settings! 🦠🟣

➡️ With this second metabolism tested, we are making progress towards understanding how the metabolic versatility of purple non-sulphur bacteria could contribute to designing novel Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) systems, while repurposing byproducts of waste recycling bioprocesses and generating protein-rich biomass for feed/food on Earth and in Space. 🌱🌍

🏅 I am also deeply honored and proud to have been bestowed with the title of Honorary Member of the Mars Society Belgium for representing it throughout 2023! I will make sure to carry their legacy for many years to come.

For future events: https://www.facebook.com/MarsSocietyBelgium

See full post (with acknowledgements): https://www.linkedin.com/posts/guillaume-gego_co2prot-mdrs-mdrscrew286-activity-7178446433224638464--7Cm?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop