Europlanet Distributed Research and Technology Infrastructure (RTI) Facility – Open University (OU) Planetary Sub-Surface Simulation Laboratory (PSSSL)
Average Transnational Access (TA) visit: 5 days
Preferred timeframe for TA visits: April/May and December 2026
The AstrobiologyOU flow-through and static reactors are capable of sustaining a range of pressures and temperatures representative of the near- and sub-surface environments of Mars and the icy moons of Europa and Enceladus under both open and closed system conditions. A novel capability of continuously flowing fluid through the chamber whilst simultaneously sampling chamber fluids (under anaerobic conditions), making their open-system configuration more realistic to natural environments.
In addition to their use in open-system and closed-system configurations, these reaction vessels support the study of both abiotic and biotic processes. Abiotic applications include water–rock interactions and gas–fluid interactions under controlled conditions. Biotic applications include microbial weathering, biosignature formation, and microbial growth experiments across a range of environmental parameters and timescales.
Additional Applications:
- Exploration of mineral dissolution rates
- Biochemical synthesis
- Ocean floor bioremediation
- Early Earth simulations
- Material science
- Studies of ocean acidification
Contact
You must get in touch with the host facility (email the Facility Lead with the Administrative Contact in cc) to discuss the technical feasibility of your proposal before submitting an application. If you do not contact the host, your proposal will not be approved.
Lead Facility Contact: Nisha Ramkissoon, School of Physical Sciences, Robert Hooke Building, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA. Nisha.Ramkissoon@open.ac.uk
Administrative Contact: Louise Thomas. Louise.Thomas@open.ac.uk
Images
Publications
- Ramkissoon, N. K.; Macey, M. C.; Kucukkilic-Stephens, E.; Barton, T.; Steele, A.; Johnson, D. N.; Stephens, B. P.; Schwenzer, S. P.; Pearson, V. K. and Olsson-Francis, K. (2024). Experimental Identification of Potential Martian Biosignatures in Open and Closed Systems. Astrobiology, 24(5) pp. 538–558.
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2023.0013
- Olsson-Francis, K.; Ramkissoon, N. K.; Macey, M.; Pearson, V. K.; Schwenzer, S. P. and Johnson, D. N. (2020). Simulating microbial processes in extraterrestrial, aqueous environments. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 172, article no. 105883. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2020.105883
