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Studying Space Effects on Microorganisms Autonomously: GeneSat, PharmaSat and the Future of Bio-nanosatellites.  M. Parra,¹ M.R. McGinnis,³ A.J. Ricco,² B. Yost,¹ and J.W. Hines¹.  ¹Astrobionics Program, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA, ²Center for Integrated Systems, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, and ³Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.

   The high cost, long wait times and overall inaccessibility of the space shuttle and ISS for life sciences experiments has created a need for a more accessible and lower cost alternative.  The purpose of the GeneSat mission was to validate the use of low-cost cubesat satellites as a novel platform for space life sciences research.  GeneSat was an autonomous, free-flying space satellite that proved capable of supporting microorganism growth and monitoring gene expression via fluorescence measurements of GFP promoter reporter constructs.  Temperature, pressure, relative humidity, radiation events and acceleration in three axes were also monitored and reported by multiple sensors.  Researchers with GFP promoter reporters for their genes of interest can readily use the GeneSat platform to test the effects of the space environment on the expression of these genes.  Furthermore, the GeneSat hardware was used as a basis from which to add features and elements of interest, resulting in PharmaSat, the first PI-driven cubesat mission.  PharmaSat is scheduled to launch in March 2008 and possesses increased complexity (optical measurements at 3 wavelengths) and sample number.  The PharmaSat fluidic system comprises 59 sample wells, 48 of which are plumbed and support biology, including two media exchanges and the growth-triggered addition of a pharmacological agent at multiple concentration levels.  The platform will allow for the monitoring of the action of an antifungal agent having potential countermeasure application against the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.