Study of the environment finely dispersed on the outer surface of the international space station and detection of microbiological objects in space experiment «Test»

Results of space experiment «Test», aimed at studying the state of the outer surface of the modules of the Russian Segment of the International Space Station (ISS), functioning in an aggressive external environment are considered in the work. The space experiment, which aims - identify prerequisites and possible mechanisms of the emergence and development of destructive processes on the surface of the ISS is described. Space experiment «Test» consists of two phases of research: the orbital and ground. Task of orbital phase is accompanying sampling of gas and dust precipitation on the surface of the station from the environment and degradation products of fine material of structural elements caused by exposure to cosmic radiation, corrosion processes, particle bombardment and other debris. For the first time in the world samples have been collected by astronaut-operator during operation «extravehicular Activities» («EVA») in a container-monoblok (sampler), which is supported by sterilized and hermetic throughout the experiment, including delivery to Earth. Task of ground phase is conducting physic-chemical, toxicological, microbiological and molecular analysis. The analysis showed the presence of viable microorganisms on the outer surface of the ISS, which allows you to put the question of the boundaries of the spread of the Earth’s biosphere and continue more in-depth study of the ecological state of isolated inhabited space objects.