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Autonomous support for microorganism research in spaceA preliminary design for performing on-orbit, autonomous research on microorganisms and cultured cells/tissues is presented. An understanding of gravity and its effects on cells is crucial for space exploration as well as for terrestrial applications. The payload is designed to be compatible with the COMmercial Experiment Transported (COMET) launch vehicle, an orbiter middeck locker interface, and with Space Station Freedom. Uplink/downlink capabilities and sample return through controlled reentry are available for all carriers. Autonomous testing activities are preprogrammed with inflight reprogrammability. Sensors for monitoring temperature, pH, light, gravity levels, vibration, and radiation are provided for environmental regulation and experimental data collection. Additional experiment data acquisition includes optical density measurement, microscopy, video, and file photography. Onboard full data storage capabilities are provided. A fluid transfer mechanism is utilized for inoculation, sampling, and nutrient replenishment of experiment cultures. In addition to payload design, representative experiments were developed to ensure scientific objectives remained compatible with hardware capabilities. The project is defined to provide biological data pertinent to extended duration crewed space flight including crew health issues and development of a Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS). In addition, opportunities are opened for investigations leading to commercial applications of space, such as pharmaceutical development, modeling of terrestrial diseases, and material processing.
Document ID
19940021179
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Luttges, M. W. (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Klaus, D. M. (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Fleet, M. L. (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Miller, M. S. (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Shipley, D. E. (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Smith, J. D. (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: USRA, Proceedings of the 8th Annual Summer Conference: NASA(USRA Advanced Design Program
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Accession Number
94N25672
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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IDRelationTitle19940020711Collected WorksNew Technologies for Space Avionics, 1993
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