Doing science is no easy undertaking in Peru; Sofia Rodriguez, Marco Capcha, Ruth Quispe and Romulo Cruz are well aware of that. However, these four young Peruvians —members of KillaLab research team— also know that nothing is impossible.
Having earned the fifth place in India's Team Indus Lab2Moon competition, a contest seeking one youth experiment to build sustainable life on the Moon, the team now has its eyes on the big prize: taking their science project to Earth's satellite.
If successful, they would be breaking fresh ground as the first Peruvian —and Latin American— mission to do so.
Yet the lack of financial support threatens their dream; KillaLab has merely a few days left to raise the US$750,000 required to launch the venture.
The project
"Our project aims to analyze the survival of cyanobacteria biofilms [greenish layers growing on rocks] on the Moon," team member microbiology graduate Sofia Rodriguez told Andina news agency.
"We want to see how cyanobacteria behave at Moon's high temperatures," she explained.
If they manage to survive, the blue-green organisms will greatly contribute to mankind's sustainability on the Moon, with practical applications ranging from biomaterials for future spacesuits to the production of food, oxygen, biopharmaceuticals and biofuel.
Aiming for the Moon
Following several explorations, biofilms selected for the lunar mission were collected in Ticlio (Lima's Highlands) and Pampa de La Joya (Arequipa region) due to their extreme temperature and radiation levels.
Samples taken in both locations will be sent to the Moon inside a CanSat-sized mini laboratory 11 cm high with a 6-cm diameter.
If chosen, the Peruvian mission would travel to the Moon on a Team Indus spacecraft with the support of India's space agency on December 28.
Lacking funds
But the team needs US$750,000 to complete the mission. Most of the sum is for Team Indus, which will fund the flight, project platform and fuel.
The remainder —close to US$100,000— is needed to complete the venture.
"We would truly regret not being able to go; it would mean missing a huge opportunity, as this mission is not as costly as others," says Marco Capcha, a UTP university mechatronics engineer.
"I call upon all universities, private enterprises and the government to give us their support to complete this mission," he pleaded.
So far, they have received contributions from: Peru's National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development (CONIDA), University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC), team members' universities, as well as fellow Peruvians working at NASA.
The fundraising deadline is this Sunday, April 30. To contribute to the venture write to killalab@gmail.com or call (51) 992235682 and (51) 934900707.
Your support could determine the success of this historic mission.
KillaLab
The Peruvian team is composed of:
- Ruth Quispe (25), biology graduate from La Molina National Agrarian University.
- Romulo Cruz (27), chemistry graduate student at National University of Engineering (UNI).
- Marco Capcha (25), mechatronics engineer from Technological University of Peru (UTP).
- Sofia Rodriguez (24), microbiology graduate from San Marcos National University.
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