[58]

ADVANCED VERSATILE TOOLS FOR LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH IN SPACE.    P. Todd, J. Vellinger, A. Sharpe, R. Ormsby, H. Platt, K. Barton and M. Deuser.  Space Hardware Optimization Technology, Inc., Greenville IN.

A family of versatile research tools is available for life sciences research in space. Individual instruments range from laboratory-tested concepts to flight proven technology.  The Avian Development Facility is designed to incubate avian eggs and process them robotically, rotating eggs and preserving embryos at specified stages of development.  Its numerous robotic functions also make it capable of incubating and processing cell cultures, insect specimens, developing invertebrates and plant seedlings. In addition to specimen rotation a rotating carousel provides 0 to 1 g.  The envelope provides full environmental control including humidity, temperature, CO₂ and oxygen in a closed environment. In the Avian Hatchling Habitat embryos hatch out of eggs in special holders transferred from the Avian Development Facility. This habitat includes an automated avian waste management system, downlink video, lighting and atmosphere control. Studies of vestibular function, reproduction, feeding, etc. can be performed with minimal crew assistance. The Advanced Animal Habitat is designed to maintain rats or mice in single or grouped housing.  Functions include video observation, light cycle and atmosphere control, automated delivery of food and water, waste collection, glovebox access, and biotelemetry compatibility. This habitat is designed to operate on the ISS Centrifuge. The Cell Culturing Cassette is a robotic cell culture reactor system capable of supporting culture volumes up to 50 mL with options for rotation, oxygenation, and robotic sampling of cells and/or medium at programmable specified times. The Advanced Separator is a circular array of multiple controllable fluids-mixing contactors applicable to a wide variety of experiments that can be initiated in a 1 mL volume. Multiple cassettes can be flown in a single mid-deck locker.  All of these tools are mid-deck locker based and uplink and/or computer controlled, and their applications are not necessarily limited to those mentioned in this report. 

(Supported in part by NASA SBIR program awards.)