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1 HASP – CRESS; Schmitz and Ferl Note: this document is intended for the fulfillment of agency reporting requirements and not intended for release to the public. FINAL SCIENCE REPORT– CRESS December 9, 2016 R. A. Schmitz 1 , A.M. Ward 1 , C. LeFrois 2 , N. J. Sng 2 , A-L Paul 2,3 , and R. J. Ferl 2,3,4 1 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 2 Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, 3 Horticultural Sciences Department, 4 Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 USA. Student Demographics Name Gender Ethnicity Race Student Status Disability R. Austin Schmitz Ana M. Ward Natasha Sng Collin LeFrois Male Female Female Male non-Hispanic non-Hispanic non-Hispanic non-Hispanic White Asian Asian White Undergraduate Undergraduate Ph.D. Candidate Ph.D. Candidate No No No No Abstract The CRESS (Cosmic Radiation Exposure System for Seeds) project exposed wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) seeds to the unique cosmic ray environment of the Earth’s stratosphere. At 120,000 feet, high altitude balloons are above 99% of the Earth’s atmosphere and are therefore exposed to higher levels of various types of cosmic radiation than on the ground. High energy particles called HZE particles, mainly protons, are of particular interest due to the damaging effects these particles inflict on genomic material. This project is an initial technology development for constructing a robust, reusable biological exposure platform for radiation exposure using balloons. The biological targets, 250,000 Arabidopsis seeds, flew dormant and without need for extensive life support during the flight. Though dormant, the seeds are capable of capturing the biological effects of any ionizing radiation that was encountered during the flight, and those effects will be revealed by post flight analysis of those seeds. Mission There are two interconnected goals for the Cosmic Radiation Exposure System for Seed (CRESS) Project. The first aim was to develop the flight hardware necessary to present Arabidopsis seeds to the radiation environment of the stratosphere by integrating the payload into a high altitude balloon platform. These goals were realized at integration and testing in Palestine, Texas and flight operations in Fort Sumner, New Mexico this past August and September, respectively. The second aim of this project is to conduct a proof of concept experiment that combines passive radiation detection techniques with biological assays to evaluate the effect of stratospheric radiation on Arabidopsis seeds.

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1HASP–CRESS;SchmitzandFerlNote:thisdocumentisintendedforthefulfillmentofagencyreportingrequirementsandnotintendedforreleasetothepublic.

FINALSCIENCEREPORT–CRESSDecember9,2016

R.A.Schmitz1,A.M.Ward1,C.LeFrois2,N.J.Sng2,A-LPaul2,3,andR.J.Ferl2,3,4

1CollegeofLiberalArtsandSciences,2PrograminPlantMolecularandCellularBiology,3Horticultural SciencesDepartment,4InterdisciplinaryCenterforBiotechnologyResearch,UniversityofFlorida, Gainesville,Florida32610USA.

StudentDemographicsName Gender Ethnicity Race StudentStatus DisabilityR.AustinSchmitzAnaM.WardNatashaSngCollinLeFrois

MaleFemaleFemaleMale

non-Hispanicnon-Hispanicnon-Hispanicnon-Hispanic

WhiteAsianAsianWhite

UndergraduateUndergraduatePh.D.CandidatePh.D.Candidate

NoNoNoNo

Abstract The CRESS (Cosmic Radiation Exposure System for Seeds) project exposed wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana(Arabidopsis) seeds to the unique cosmic ray environment of the Earth’s stratosphere. At 120,000 feet, highaltitudeballoonsareabove99%oftheEarth’satmosphereandarethereforeexposedtohigherlevelsofvarioustypesofcosmicradiationthanontheground.HighenergyparticlescalledHZEparticles,mainlyprotons,areofparticularinterestduetothedamagingeffectstheseparticlesinflictongenomicmaterial.Thisprojectisaninitialtechnologydevelopmentforconstructingarobust,reusablebiologicalexposureplatformforradiationexposureusingballoons.Thebiologicaltargets,250,000Arabidopsisseeds,flewdormantandwithoutneedforextensivelifesupportduringtheflight.Thoughdormant,theseedsarecapableofcapturingthebiologicaleffectsofanyionizingradiationthatwasencounteredduringtheflight,andthoseeffectswillberevealedbypostflightanalysisofthoseseeds.

MissionTherearetwointerconnectedgoalsfortheCosmicRadiationExposureSystemforSeed(CRESS)Project.ThefirstaimwastodeveloptheflighthardwarenecessarytopresentArabidopsisseedstotheradiationenvironmentofthestratospherebyintegratingthepayloadintoahighaltitudeballoonplatform.ThesegoalswererealizedatintegrationandtestinginPalestine,TexasandflightoperationsinFortSumner,NewMexicothispastAugustandSeptember,respectively.ThesecondaimofthisprojectistoconductaproofofconceptexperimentthatcombinespassiveradiationdetectiontechniqueswithbiologicalassaystoevaluatetheeffectofstratosphericradiationonArabidopsisseeds.

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2HASP–CRESS;SchmitzandFerlNote:thisdocumentisintendedforthefulfillmentofagencyreportingrequirementsandnotintendedforreleasetothepublic.

TableofContentsStudentDemographics..............................................................................................................................................1

Abstract.....................................................................................................................................................................1

Mission......................................................................................................................................................................1

HardwareDevelopment............................................................................................................................................3

InitialConcept.......................................................................................................................................................4

FinalPayloadDesign..............................................................................................................................................4

DesignEvolution....................................................................................................................................................5

VacuumChamberTesting.....................................................................................................................................8

ThermalTesting...................................................................................................................................................10

BiologicalPayload...................................................................................................................................................11

BiologicalTesting.................................................................................................................................................11

TemperatureSeedTesting(RT,+40,-80)............................................................................................................11

Temperature/PressureSeedTesting(RT,+40,-20˚[email protected])....................................................11

FlightOperations–FortSumner,NewMexico.......................................................................................................13

Post-FlightProcessing.........................................................................................................................................13

CR-39Processing.............................................................................................................................................13

SeedScreening................................................................................................................................................14

Bibliography............................................................................................................................................................15

PosterPresentations...............................................................................................................................................15

Awards....................................................................................................................................................................15

FundingAwarded....................................................................................................................................................15

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3HASP–CRESS;SchmitzandFerlNote:thisdocumentisintendedforthefulfillmentofagencyreportingrequirementsandnotintendedforreleasetothepublic.

HardwareDevelopmentHardwaredesignfortheCRESSpayloadprogressedconsiderablyduringthesix-monthspanbetweenconceptandflight. Design changes were influenced by a continuously evolving understanding of various elements of thepayloadincluding3D-printingmaterials,theexposurelimitsofArabidopsisseeds,andInitialRequirement

- Payloadmustfly100,000seedstotheEarth’supperatmosphere.InitialDesiredFeaturesTheseelementsarepreferredbutnotrequiredforasuccessfulflight.

1. Thermalcontrol2. 1atm.sealedcontainer3. Filmorelectronicradiationdetectionsystem,ideallywithsomephysicalrelationshiptotheseedcassette

toenablephysicalmappingoftheimpacts.4. Recordtheinternalandexternaltemperatureandpressureenvironment(e.g.HOBOdatalogger).

FinalRequirement

- Payloadmustfly250,000seedtotheEarth’supperatmosphere.FinalDesiredFeaturesTheseelementsarepreferredbutnotrequiredforasuccessfulflight.

1. Acontainmentvesselcapableofmaintainingapproximately1-atmosphereofinternal*pressure2. Internaltemperatureandpressuredataforthedurationoftheflightprocesses,includingpreandpost-

flightprocedures.3. CR-39SolidStateNuclearTrackDetector(SSNTD)sheetsfortherecordingofgalacticcosmicrayimpacts.4. Awell-organizedseedcontainerallowingforhighlycontrolledpost-flightprocessingandanalysis.

*Thesealedvolumewithinthecontainmentvessel,containingtheseedsandSolidStateNuclearTrackDetectorSheets.

Inorderforasuccessfulmission,theCRESSpayloadneededtobringseedstotheEarth’supper-atmosphere.Thenoticeablechangeinthequantityofseedsrequired,100,000initiallyto250,000forthefinaldesign,issimplytheresultofthemethodbywhichtheseedswereorganized.Duringdevelopment,itwasdeterminedthat250,000seedcouldbestored.Thereareseveralobviouschangesinthedesiredfeaturesfrominitialdesigntofinaldesign.1. ThermalControlwas removedafter seedexposure testingproved thermal life supportmeasureswerenotnecessary.2.(1atm.sealedcontainer)wasretaineduntilthefinalflightdesign.SeesectionDesignEvolutionformoreinformationonthecontainmentvessel.

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InitialConcept

FinalPayloadDesign

A B C

PayloadChassis

ArduinoUNOR3

MountingStructure

AssembledBiologicalPayload

ImpactingGCR

NuclearEmulsionFilm

ArabidopsisSeeds

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DesignEvolutionThe initialdesignoftheCRESSpayloadwasheavily influencedbytheperceivedneedtoprotectthebiologicaltarget (seeds) from the extreme environment of the upper atmosphere. It was believed that the freezingtemperaturesandlowpressureenvironmentmayaffectthegerminationratesoftheArabidopsisseeds.Inordertocombattheseextremeconditions,theinitialdesignincludedmicrocontrollerresponsibleforthemeasurementof internalenvironmentalconditionsandthecounteractionofthoseconditionsbytogglinganinternalheatingelement.ThissystemconsistedofanArduinoR3microcontroller,agamutofseveraltemperatureandpressuresensors,asmallresistiveheatingsheet,andappropriatepoweradapters.Thecomplexityoftheabovesystemledtoanumberofcomplicationsinherentinelectricalsystemsoperatinginlow pressure environments. In addition, the viability of Arabidopsis seeds in extreme upper-atmosphericconditions was not well understood. Several tests were performed to define the temperature and pressureconditionsrequiredtoretainviableseeds.ForfurtherdetailsregardingseedenvironmentaltestingseeBiologicalTesting.Itwasdetermined,throughseveralextremeenvironmentalseedtests,therewasnoneedforextensiveenvironmental control. This insight allowed for the removal of the Arduino-controlled thermal managementsystem,greatlysimplifyingthepayload.Thedesign-goaltomaintaininternalatmosphericpressuresatornear1atmwasretainedasaprecautionarymeasure.Inaddition,thenatureofanatmosphericcontainmentvesselhastheaddedbenefitsofhighstructuralintegrity,propensitytoattenuateextremetemperature,andabilitytoreflectdamagingsolarUVradiation.

MicroSDDataStorage BMP180Pressure/TempSensors

ArduinoUnoR3

AnalogueTemp.Sensors

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Designtimeline:January2016

Description: “TheCubeSat”wastheinitialdesignforCRESS.The.stlfilefor thisdesignwasfoundonGrabCadbycontributor,ArminYousefi Kanani.Advantages: Easyto3D-print.Properform-factorofa1-Unitcubesatellite.Disadvantages: Thinwalls.Difficulttoaccessinnercomponents.Incapableof containing1atm.ofinternalpressure.

February2016

Description: “Ardusat”wasthesecondform-factorfortheCRESSpayload. Thisdesignwascreatedbythecompany,Ardusat,forspecific usewithArduinomicrocontrollers.Atthetime,CRESSstill implementedtheuseofandArduinoR3microcontrollerfor thermalanddatamanagement.Advantages: Easyto3D-print.Properform-factorofa1-Unitcubesatellite. Easytoaccessinnercomponents.Easytodisassemble.Disadvantages: Faileddroptesting.Incapableofcontainingatm.ofinternal pressure.

March2016Description: MarchmarkedthegreatestchangeinthedesignoftheCRESSpayload.Theneedfora containmentvesselandasimpleintegrationsystemmotivatedthedevelopmentofacustom design.Inaddition,seedexposuretestingprovedthatadvancedthermallifesupportwasnot necessary,leadingtoasimplerdesignthatrequiredonlyasimple,self-containeddatalogger. TheoriginaldesigncalledforaCNC-cutacryliccontainmentvessel(clearstructure)and3D- printedsupportstructure(Middle:shownattachedtotheHASPintegrationPlate).Thisdesign eventuallyevolvedtobecomethefinaliterationthatflewinNewMexico.Advantages: Easyto3D-printsupport.Properform-factorofa1-Unitcubesatellite.Cheapmaterials.Large internalvolumeforseedsanddatalogger.

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Disadvantages:DifficulttosealCNC-cutacrylic(incapableofcontaining1atm.pressure).Flimsysupportstructure. Flangedboltsupports(circledinred)of3D-printed-acrylic-substitutecontainmentvesselfailed lidtighteningtest.April2016

Description: SeveralimportantdevelopmentsweremadeinAprilincluding largerflangedboltsupportsandside-wallsaddedtothesupport structure.Theuseofacrylicforthecontainmentvesselwas abandonedandinsteadthecontainmentvesselwas3D-printed usingMakerbotFDM*technology.However,severalvacuum chambertestsprovedthatthe3D-printedcontainmentvessel wasincapableofholding1atm.Advantages: Strongersupport.Easytointegratethecontainmentvessel. Containmentvesselisstructurallysound Disadvantages: Stillincapableofcontaining1atm.ofinternalpressure.

*FilamentDepositionModeling.Themostcommon3D-printingtechnique.UsedbyMakerbotandCraftbot.

May2016

Description: InMayof2016thecontainmentvessel(CV)finaldesignwascompleted.Thewallswerethinned andadditionalsupportswereaddedtotheflangedboltsupports(circledinred).TheCV successfullycontained1atm.ofinternalpressurethroughmultipleexposurestolowpressure. MinoreditstothesupportstructureenabledquickerintegrationoftheCVandseamless integrationtotheHASPintegrationplate.Advantages: ObjetEdenVeroclearmodelcapableofcontaining1atm.ofinternalpressure.Quickandefficient integrationandreintegration.RobustCVandsupport. Disadvantages:FDMCVstillincapableofcontaining1atm.internalpressure.Difficulttoaccessbiologicalpayload andMSRwithinCVafterlidistighteneddown.Veroclearprintsomewhatsensitivetohighheat exposure(seesectionThermalTesting).

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June2016

Description: Left:FinalprintofthecontainmentvesseltobeusedforflightinNewMexico.Thismodelwas

usedduringIntegrationandThermal-VacuumtestinginPalestine,Texasprovingthatthepayloadwascapableoffulfillingalldesiredfeatures.Slightwarpingwasobservedafterextendedtimeboltedshut.However,therewerenoissueswiththeCV’sabilitytocontain1atm.ofinternalpressure.

Advantages: Performednominallythroughseveralenvironmentalexposuretests.Theclearmaterialallowsfor easyassessmentofinternaldataloggerstatus.Disadvantages:DifficulttoaccessbiologicalpayloadandinternaldataloggerafterCVisboltedshut.Slightwarping inhighheat.

VacuumChamberTestingInitial pressure testing was completed using a dome vacuum chamber. Thecontainment vessel designs were bolted shut and exposed to the low pressureenvironment of the vacuum chamber for approximately 30 minutes. AbsolutepressureandtemperatureinsidethecontainmentvesselwasrecordedusinganMSRdatalogger.Thisparticularvacuumchamberiscapableofcreatingareducedpressureenvironment near 250mbars. Although this pressure is much higher than thatexperienced during a high altitude flight, these tests proved useful for the initialverificationofthecontainmentvesselseal.3D-PrintedContainmentVesselItwasobservedthattheabovecontainmentvesselconfiguration(Acrylictop,3D-Printedbase)cannotmaintainnormalatmosphericpressureuponpullingavacuum.Thesealbetweentheacrylictopandthe3D-printedbasewasfirstassumedtobethepointoffailure.However,itwasdiscoveredusingasimpletestthatthe3D-Printisactually the point of failure. Filament Deposition Modeling, a technique Craftbot and Makerbot 3D-printersutilizedtoproduceprints,oftenleavestinyspacesbetweenlayersoffilament.Itisthroughthesetinyholesthatallowspassageofgasandfluids.

ContainmentVesselMSR VacuumChamber

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Watercoloredblueusingfooddyewasusedtopinpointthe locationair leaks.Soonafterloweringthepressurewithinthe chamber, blue dye was seenpermeatingthewallsofthe3D-printedbaseas seen inphotosBandC to theright.AcrylicContainmentVesselAnacrylic containmentvesselwasconstructed inparallel toa3D-printedcontainmentvessel.Theacrylicwasmilledusinga–axisCNCmill.Theindividualacryliccutswerecementedtogetherusing16FastSetacryliccementfromSCIGRIP™.Uponpullingavacuumonthewater-filledacrylicvesselbubblesbegantoformontheinsideoftheacrylic.Thereareclearlysmallholesalongthecementpoints.Theseinneredgeswerethensealed,butdidnotholdpressureundervacuum.

A CB

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10HASP–CRESS;SchmitzandFerlNote:thisdocumentisintendedforthefulfillmentofagencyreportingrequirementsandnotintendedforreleasetothepublic.

The final design in VeroClear resin, printed a containment vessel that performedwell during a 25 hour lowpressuretest@≈170mbars.AnMSRdataloggerwasusedtorecordthepressurewithinthevacuumchamberandwithinthecontainmentvessel.Ambientatmosphericpressurehoveredaround1015mbar.Uponattachingandtighteningthetopofthecontainmentvesseltothebottomofthecontainmentvesseltheinternalpressurejumpedto1037.5mbars.Overthecourseofthe25hourtestthepressurewithinthecontainmentvesselfellfrom1037.5 mbars to 1014.6 mbars. This equates to a loss of 0.9 mbars of internal air pressure per hour thecontainmentvesselisexposedtothelowpressureenvironment.

A follow up test was performed at NASA KSC which subjected the containment vessel to a 0.045 mbarenvironment.Thecontainmentvesselbehavedcomparabletotheinitialtest.Theinternalpressureenvironmentof thecontainmentvesselwasrecordedforthe8hours leadinguptoandthe8hours following lowpressuretestingatKSC.Ithasbeendeterminedthatexternaltemperaturehasafargreaterimpactontheinternalpressurecomparedtotheexternalpressure.Whenplacedwithinarefrigeratorfor5hoursthevesselexperiencedadropof50mbarsascomparedtoadropof20mbarswhensubjectedtoa0.045mbarexternalpressureenvironment.These drops in pressure,whether fromexternal temperature or external pressure, are insignificant and theireffectsliewellwithinthepressureboundsforthesuccessoftheprimarymissiongoal.

ThermalTestingTheFDMmodelandtheVeroClearresinmodelwerebothsubjectedtotemperaturesof50˚-55˚Cfor12hours.The containment vessels are under considerable stresswhen thebolts are tightened to ensure a proper sealbetween the top and bottom. In the figure below, it is obvious that this stress caused a deformation in thestructure’sshapecomparedtotheshapebeforethermaltesting.Thisslightdeformationofthematerialhowever,didnotaffectthecontainmentvessel’sabilitytoholdpressureanddidnotcauseanyharmtotheHASPgondolaorotherpayloads.

1037.5mbars

1014.6mbars

1015.0mbars

170.0mbars

FIGURE

GRAPHA:PressurewithinVacuumChamber GRAPHB:PressurewithinContainmentVessel

GraphAstandsasthecontrolforGraphB.GraphBillustratesthepressureenvironmentwithinthecontainmentvesselasitissubjectedtothe170mbarenvironmentwithinthevacuumchamber.Thenoticeablejumpinpressurehalf-waythroughthetestwasduetoatemporarylossofvacuumcausedbyavacuumpumpmalfunction.

1015.0mbars

A

B

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BiologicalPayload

BiologicalTestingAtthetimeofinitialpayloaddesign,thesurvivabilityofArabidopsisseedsintheupperatmospherewasnotwellunderstood.InordertofacilitatethedevelopmentoftheCRESSpayload,environmentaltestingwasperformed.TheresultsofthesetestsdictatedthetechnicaldevelopmentoftheCRESSpayload.TemperatureSeedTesting(RT,+40,-80)SeedswereexposedtoRoomTemperature,40˚Cand-80˚Cfor5days.Theseedswerethensterilizedandallowedtogerminateonsterilenutrientagarosegelplates.

Forthecontrol,roomtemperatureseeds(24˚-27˚C),thegerminationratewas98.6%.Germinationwasslightlylowerforthe+40˚Candthesameforthe-80˚Cseeds.ThesetestssuggestthatseedscansurviveandgerminatewellinconditionsmoreextremethanthoserecordedduringpreviousHASPflights.Temperature/PressureSeedTesting(RT,+40,-20˚[email protected])Columbia-0 seeds were exposed to conditions similar to those present during a high-altitude flight. Despiteextremes of both temperature and pressure high germination rateswere observed. The following studywassupportedthroughtheguidanceandhardwareofDr.AndrewSchuerger.Temperature(˚C) Pressure(mbars) GerminationRate(%)

-20 1020 230/23498.2-20 8 231/23498.724 1020 231/23299.624 8 208/20810040 1020 191/1939940 8 202/20797

ConditionTested #ofSeedsPlanted #ofseedsGerminated %Germination

RoomTemperature 141 139 98.6+40˚Celsius 191 186 97.4-80˚Celsius 217 214 98.6

C DA:TheovenusedtotestboththeFDMandResinmodel.B:BoththeResinandFDMmodelshowcomparabledeformationafterexposureto55˚Cfor12hours.ThiswasexpectedasbothmaterialhavesimilarHDT˚[email protected]:indicatedbytheredarrowsisthelocationthatshowedthemostsignificantdeformation.ThisdeformationdidnotsignificantlyeffecttheinternaldimensionsofthecontainmentvesseltherebyallowingeasyintegrationandremovalofthebiologicalpayloadandMSRdatalogger.

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Theseresultindicatethatthecombinationofextremetemperatureandpressureenvironmentobservedduringflightwillnotsignificantlyaffectthegerminationratesofplantseeds.Itwasobviousfromtheseteststhatbiologicallifesupportwasnotnecessary.TheseresultgreatlysimplifiedtheCRESSpayloadbyreducingpayloadweightandcostandincreasingthedesignefficacyofoursystem.

DesignThebiologicaltargetsofthisstudy,250,000Arabidopsisthalianaseeds,wereorganizedinamodified1500wellplate(seedcassette)andstoredwithinthecontainmentvessel.TodeterminethelocationofpotentialGalacticCosmicRayhits,CR-39sheets(suppliedbyTrackAnalysisSystemsLtd.)wereorganizedaroundtheseedcassette.TheorientationandorderoftheCR-39sheetswerewelldocumentedandthispositionwasusedtopinpointhitlocations,andtracethepathofeventsthroughtheseedcassettepost-flight.

DeterminingHitLocationSeedsandSSNTDsheetarede-integratedpost-flight.SSNTDsheetsareprocessedandanalyzedforimpactsbyGCR’s.X,Y,ZCoordinatesofpossiblyimpactedseedsaredetermined.Seedarelocated,removedfromtheseedtray,andpreparedforscreening.

A:Imageoftheloadedseedarraycontainingapproximately250,000Arabidopsisseeds.B:AssembledseedarrayandCR-39SSNTDfilminsert.C:Close-upimageoftheinsertdetailingthethreeCR-39sheets(clear/white)placedaboveandbelowtheseedarray(black)foratotalof6CR-39sheets.D:ImageofseedarrayandCR-39sheetsassemblybeinginsertedwithintheholder(withMSRdataloggerattached).

B C DA

X

YSeedTray

SheetsofCR-39SSNTDsheetsaboveandbelowseedtray

~400Arabidopsisseeds/well

-PathofCosmicRay

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FlightOperations–FortSumner,NewMexicoFlight and payload recovery was an overall success. The CRESS containment vessel and support structurewithstoodtheuniquetemperature,pressure,andgenvironmentexperiencedduringthehigh-altitudeballoonlaunch,15hour8minuteflight,andfinalimpact.InternaltemperatureandpressureenvironmentalreadingsfromtheMSRdataloggershowthatthecontainmentvessel performed just as expected and are consistentwith pre-flight environmental testing. The payloadwasrecoveredandstoredon-iceforapproximately12hoursaftertouchdown.CRESS’sintegrationlocationwithintheHASP payload attenuated the harsh desert sunlight and in effect the internal temperature of CRESS onlytemporarilyroseabove30˚C;wellwithintheviabilitylimitsofthebiology.Post-FlightProcessingCR-39ProcessingInordertoexpeditethescreeningprocess,etchingoftheCR-39sheetshasbegun.InitialanalysisshowspossibleGCRimpactsites.TheimpactlocationresultsfromCR-39etchingwilldictatetheselectionofseedsforgrowthandsubsequentscreeningonsterilegrowthplates.

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Tempe

rature(˚C)

Pressure(m

bars)

Timestamp(EST)

FLIGHTEVIRONMENTALREADINGS

Pressure(mbar) Deg°C

FLIGHTSTART PAYLOADRECOVEREDFLIGHTTERMINATED

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Thebiologyandsolidstatenucleartrackdetector(ssntd)sheetsarede-integratedandcurrentlystoredina4˚Crefrigeratorand-20˚Cfreezer,respectively.Testingandinitialprocessingofboththebiologyandthessntdsheetsisunderway.EarlyscreeningofaflightCR-39ssntdsheetsuggestputativecosmicrayimpactsbutfurtheranalysisisnecessary.SeedScreeningInordertodeterminethepresenceofgalacticcosmicrayinducedgeneticmutationsthatresultinaphenotypicchange,flownseedsmustbescreenedinsuchawaythatbothrootsandshootsareexaminable.Thehighquantityofflownseedsalsoposesanumberoflogisticalchallenges.Wemustbalancetheusehighthroughputscreeningtechniqueswithoutsacrificingthefidelityofthescreeningprocess. Inourinitialassays,themicro-binofseedsindicatedbytheCR-39tracepathswereseparatedfromtheremainingseedsinthetrayandthenplantedonsolidnutrientplatesforgrowthandevaluatedfordeviantphenotypes.

EtchedCR-39SSNTDsheetsareviewedunderacompoundmicroscopetoassessimpactlocations.ImpactsformconicalholesonboththeupperandlowerplaneoftheSSNTDsheets.PicturedrightisapossibleGCRimpactonCR-39sheetsflownonthe2016HASPflight.

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15HASP–CRESS;SchmitzandFerlNote:thisdocumentisintendedforthefulfillmentofagencyreportingrequirementsandnotintendedforreleasetothepublic.

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PosterPresentationsA.M.Ward1,R.A.Schmitz1,N.J.Sng2,,R.J.Ferl1-3,andA-L.Paul1-2.ScreeningforGalacticCosmicRadiationInducedMutationsinArabidopsisSeeds -UFGeneticsSymposium–Gainesville,Florida–November2016R.Austin.Schmitz,AnaM.Ward,E.R.Schultz,N.J.Sng,A-LPaul,R.J.FerlATechnologicalDevelopmentStudyoftheEffectsofCosmicRadiationExposureonSeeds–PosterPresentation -AmericanSocietyforGravitationalandSpaceResearch–Cleveland,Ohio–October2016

Awards1st Place – StudentUndergraduate Poster Competition, American Society forGravitational and SpaceResearchConference,ClevelandOhio

FundingAwarded$6000–NASAFloridaSpaceGrantConsortium:UnsolicitedProposalfortheCosmicRadiationExposureSystemforSeeds(CRESS)Project$2259–UniversityScholarsProgram:Undergraduatestudentresearchsupport$500–UniversityScholarsProgramTravelStipend:FortravelrelatedexpensestopresenttheCRESSprojectatthe2016ASGSRAnnualMeeting