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THE EFFECTS OF MODIFIED BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN A CANISTER (BRIC) SPACEFLIGHT HARDWARE ON THE SURVIVABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOBACCO HORNWORM (MANDUCA SEXTA)       M.R. Inzunza¹, K. Anderson ², O. van den Ende². ¹Spaceflight and Life Sciences Training Program, ² The Bionetics Corporation, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fl.

     Tobacco Hornworms (Manduca sexta) are used extensively in life sciences research. The M. sexta larva and pupa have been used in many endocrine and physiology studies. Determining the effects of gravity or microgravity on these M. sexta pupa systems is the focus of some biochemical research. In order to study the M. sexta in microgravity, a containment system was developed that would provide the M. sexta pupa with a safe and non-restrictive environment. The Biological Research in a Canister (BRIC) is flight hardware designed to accommodate various biological experiments for flight on the shuttle. It is small, passive and inexpensive. M. sexta pupa have already flown twice in the BRIC hardware. The initial spaceflight proved that modifications to the BRIC were necessary to allow an acceptable amount of gas exchange for the M. sexta due to their sensitivity to environments with low oxygen (O₂) and high carbon dioxide (CO₂). The unmodified BRIC does not allow for ample gas exchange because it traps ambient CO₂ in the BRIC. The BRIC hardware was modified from both lids being solid to both lids being perforated. The new modified lids are covered with gas permeable, hydrophobic membranes. These experiments will determine the effects of increased CO₂ and decreased O₂ on the M. sexta survivability and development in the modified and non-modified BRIC’s. Conclusive analysis indicates that M. sexta pupae exposed to decreased O₂ and increased CO₂ levels in the non-modified BRIC slows or stops the pupa’s development. M. sexta pupa in the modified BRIC developed normally.