In addition to model calculations which are performed in our institute to find out the possibilities of planets in our solar system and on exoplanets, the experimental work is designed to test the effect of simulated planetary environments on (micro-) organisms.
Results gained by these experiments are clarifying to which degree the planets and moons might be habitable for terrestrial (micro-) organisms. If organisms are able to survive or even to be active during the planetary simulation conditions, the planet of interest is habitable.
The experiments take place in our Mars Simulation Facility (MSF) which can also be used as alternative planet simulation device where another atmosphere with up to 5 gas mixtures can be simulated or even the conditions of early Earth. Temperatures and different humidity scales can also be operated. Details please have a look on the MSF.