Detecting Microbiology in the Upper Atmosphere: Relative-Velocity Filtered Sampling

Area of Science:

• Atmospheric Science
• Astrobiology
• Aeronomy

Background:

• The vertical extent of Earth's biosphere remains incompletely defined, particularly in the upper atmosphere.
• The mesosphere and lower thermosphere are largely unexplored for biological material due to historical focus on lower atmospheric regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To practically investigate the potential altitude limits of Earth's biosphere.
• To propose novel methodologies for detecting biological material in the upper atmosphere, specifically the mesosphere and lower thermosphere.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing recent technological advancements, including CubeSats and rocket-borne samplers (e.g., MAGIC).
• Suggesting strategies for sampling biological material in the "ignore-osphere" (mesosphere and lower thermosphere).
• Proposing a new detector design to mitigate contamination by filtering particles based on size and relative velocity.

Main Results:

• Identified CubeSats and MAGIC samplers as viable tools for atmospheric biological sampling.
• Addressed the critical issue of contamination in upper atmospheric sampling.
• Proposed a novel detector concept to enhance the reliability of detecting extraterrestrial biological material.

Conclusions:

• The upper atmosphere, specifically the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, presents a potentially viable, yet overlooked, region for biosphere exploration.
• Technological advancements offer practical solutions for sampling and detecting biological material at high altitudes.
• Further research and development of specialized detection equipment are crucial for confirming the presence of life beyond the conventionally defined biosphere.