A multi-step astrobiological approach for supporting life-detection

The next space exploration missions will aim to search for signs of life on other planetary bodies of the Solar System. The research is mainly focused on the search for biogenic molecules (biosignatures) or life form remnants (fossils). However, potential signs of extinct or extant life can be affected by solar radiation as UV and ionizing radiation, heavy ions from galactic radiation, or by vacuum; conditions not experienced on Earth and that can be harmful to organics, preventing their detectability. Currently, one of the best ways to study the effects of space environment is through a combined approach, including the selection of biological sample, preliminary ground-based experiments, and exposure in dedicated platforms outside the International Space Station (ISS), since all the stressing conditions of deep space cannot be simulated even in the best planetary simulation scenario. Here, we described the main stages of multi-step investigations for astrobiological research.