National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Free Flyer Utilization for Biology Research

John W. Hines Chief Technologist, Engineering DirectorateTechnical Director, Nanosatellite MissionsNASA-Ames Research Center

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Human Health Emphasis

FundamentalBiology

Emphasis

FundamentalBiology

Emphasis

Human ExplorationEmphasis

Human ExplorationEmphasis

HumansHumans

Exploration Subsystems

Exploration Subsystems

SmallOrganisms

(Mice, Rats)

SmallOrganisms

(Mice, Rats)

Tissue, OrgansTissue, Organs

BioMoleculesBioMolecules

MammalianCells

MammalianCells

ModelOrganisms,Microbes

ModelOrganisms,Microbes

NASA Applications of BioScience/BioTechnology

4Free-Flyer Utilization

Free Flyer Features

• Advantage: Relatively inexpensive means to increase number of flight opportunities

• Capabilities: – Returnable capsule to small secondary non-recoverable

satellites, and/or

– In-situ measurement and control with autonomous sample management

• Command and Control: Fully automated or uplinked command driven investigations.

• Research data: Downlink and/or receipt of the samples

• Collaborations: Interagency, academic, commercial and international

Russian Free Flyers

NASA Biosatellite III, 1969Nominal 20d flight

• Spaceflight responses of non-human primates

NASA Biosatellite I, II, 1966-67Nominal 3d flights

• Response to microgravity & radiation: various biological species

• Onboard radiation source

Early Free Flyers

Timeline of Russian-NASA Biology Spaceflights Collaborations

Bion* Characteristics

Bion Rationale

• Increases access to space• Proven Platforms

– Relatively low cost & risk -- >98% success with modified Vostok launcher and Cosmos/Bion & Foton spacecraft

– Capitalizes on existing Russian capability - NASA had a productive collaboration in 9 joint missions (starting in 1975)

– Full ECLSS– Nominal Duration is 20 - 30 Days, 45+ Days planned

• Complements existing flight program (STS/ISS)– Supports animal research in space – Provides long duration microgravity exposure with onboard radiation source– Potential platform for artificial gravity research– Enables use of virulent organisms and hazardous chemicals -- response to

disease and toxics– Technology testbed, advanced analytical devices, telescience & robotics

• Rapid science return• Science drives mission design including launch and reentry timing, orbit, and flight

duration

Bion: Russian Mission Scenarios

Mission, Date Bion-M1, 2012 (tbd) Bion-M2, 2014 (tbd) Bion-M3, 2016 (tbd)

Duration: Up to 30 days 30-40 days 45+ days

Mission Focus:

Microgravity effects on adult rodents and smaller specimens

Long Duration rodent study w/ or w/o on-board radiation source for microgravity-radiation synergy

Artificial gravity, radiation or longer duration rodent microgravity study

Russian Focus:

Systems biology (bone, muscle, neuroscience, …) Radiation Health Artificial Gravity

No. PIs: 10-15 10-20 10-20

Domestic Free Flyers

• Science and Exploration Missions– Biological Sciences– Astrobiology– Astrophysics– Space Sciences– Space Physics– Lunar Sciences

• Technology Demonstrations– Propulsion– Communications– Mass reduction - MEMS/NEMS– Autonomous operations– Formation flying/constellations– Novel space architectures - tethers– Evolvable, reconfigurable satellites

LANL

CalTech

Aerospace Corp

NASA/ARC

Payload packages on larger spacecraft• Flight heritage from Cubesat missions

• Use Cubesat derived technologies to support other spacecraft missions

• Lunar Orbiters

• Lunar Landers

Roles of Very Small Spacecraft

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MicroSatellite - Free Flyers• Microsatellites are small, rapidly deployable, highly flexible science and

technology spaceflight platforms generally considered to be of mass less than 100 kg.

• For the Microsatellite Free Flyer Project, the spacecraft range in mass from 5-50 kg, with initial missions utilizing platforms in the 5-10kg range

• These spacecraft are capable of accommodating fully autonomous payloads and conducting in-situ measurement, monitoring and control biological experiments, with real-time analysis and data downlink.

µSat-FF capabilities validated by multiple spaceflights:

– GeneBox (launched Jul 2006),– GeneSat (launched Dec 2006),– Pre-Sat/Nanosail-D (Aug 2008)– PharmaSat (launched May 2009),– O/OREOS (planned May. 2010);– SALMON (planned May. 2011+)

MicroSatellite Free Flyer (MicroSatellite Free Flyer (µµSatSat--FF) ProjectFF) ProjectScience Targets & ApplicationsScience Targets & Applications

• Goal: Provide the capability to support biological/biotechnology payloads for model organisms, mammalian cells, and other relevant specimens

• Measurement Targets (subset): – Gene expression; protein expression; metabolites, signalers, excretates; growth, kill curves; behavior

• Possible Applications (subset):– Combined radiation/reduced gravity consequences: mammalian cells, human gene carriers (e.g. yeast),

model organisms.• DNA damage: wound healing, cancer• Cell membrane damage: central nervous system• Oxidation: compromised defense to hazards & pathogens• Protein damage: impaired bone & muscle function

– Space effects on microbes/pathogens• Virulence increase/decrease

• Changes in pharmacological efficacy => PharmaSat-1

• Push the envelope of miniaturization, automation: also benefits human-tended payloads, related terrestrial applications– e.g. “canary-on-a-chip”

Capabilities

• Fully autonomous, self-contained free-flyers.

• Multiple configurations to address a multitude of research scenarios.

• Mass: 4 – 50 kg total spacecraft payload in µSat-FF configuration (3 – 75 L total volume)

• Accommodated on most any launch vehicle due to small size, volume

• Many orbital trajectories: LEO, HEO, GEO, Lunar, etc.

• Low power consumption: 4 – 50 W

• Temperature control: 15 – 40 °C (4 °C with 30-50 kg version), <0.5 °C stability

• Humidity control: 30 – 100%, active or passive control

• Media support: liquid culture or solid/gel-supported growth; fluid exchange; bio/chemical challenges

• Atmosphere: 1 atm ± 10%; active O2, CO2 control; gas exchange

• In-situ, real-time analysis; autonomous data management & telemetry

• Interactive with “timeout autonomy” or fully autonomous experimental control.

• Sample return possible (future)

Microsatellite Technologies

Spatial Imaging

Detection and Analysisµ‐wellplates

Diffuse fluorescence,luminescence

µ‐fluidics

Goal: develop modular, broadly-applicable technology platform that …

• elucidates molecular biological effects of microgravity + radiation space-flight environment: gene & protein expression, metabolites

• is applicable to many micro- and small organisms: single/multicellular; adherent, non-adherent, motile

• is designed for fully autonomous life support, sample processing, analysis

• is reconfigurable, modular in design; i.e. “replicate friendly” multiwell approach

• supports multiple measurement strategies and tools

• has minimum practical size, weight, power consumption: low-cost 2° payloads

Sample Management, Culturing

PCR

Single-wavelength

DNA,proteinµarrays

Multi-wavelength

cytometry

Spectroscopy

Applicability: Free-Flyers, ISS, Gnd R&D, Xfer

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Microsat Free Flyer Multi-Year Schedule Status

FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16

PharmaSat (Msat FF1)

MoO*

MSat FF/MoO 1

MSat FF/MoO 2

Msat FF 2MoO 3

Msat FF 3MoO 4

Msat FF 4MoO5

PlanningSolicitation & SelectionPre‐Phase APhase A

Phase BPhase CPhase DPhase E/F

Launch

11 22 33 44 11 22 33 44 11 22 33 44 11 22 33 44 11 22 33 44 11 22 33 44 11 22 33 44

Data Analysis & Report

11 22 33 44

Note:  Schedule beyond FY 2014 is notional 

E/PO EXAMPLE: GeneSat-1 Student Involvement

Pre-Launch/Mission Operations

Post-Launch Engagement

University Level: Montana State University and Cal Poly: participants in the Amateur Radio Contest, Having access to your conversion factors, also permitted our students to engage in data reduction and analysis techniques. Dave Klumpar, MSU; Old Dominion University space system engineering course: homework assignment using GeneSat 1 to predict the decay rate of a satellite in a circular orbit

High School Level: Manheim Central High School, Lancaster, PA 9th grade Earth Science students using GeneSat Telemetry data while studying astronomy, analyze solar cell currents, and the temperatures of the satellite as it orbits the earth using Excel to create graphs of the data.

Elementary School Level: St Catherine of Sienna School in Burlingame, GeneSat Telemetry Science Fair Entry by ‘JAK’ Kitts, Age 9

6 Universities: Arizona State University; Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo; Northeastern University; San Francisco State University; Santa Clara University; Stanford University

2 High Schools: Leland High School; Georgianna Bruce Kirby Prep School

40 Students: 19 Grad Students; 19 Undergrad Students; 2 High School Students

13 Student Projects: 3 Co-op projects; 4 Capstone projects; 2 Undergraduate Thesis Topics; 3 Graduate Thesis Topics; 1(very near term) Doctoral Thesis Topic

Preparing the next generation of engineers with hands-on experience, solving real world problems

Bion M1 NRA (Immunology and BSP) Theme areas: Immune FunctionBiospeciman Sharing Program: rodent investigationsExploration Relevance:Understanding long term space environment effects on immune function can provide insight to space exploration crew health risk.Schedule:43 Step-1 proposals received39 invited to submit Step-2 proposals33 Step-2 proposals receivedScience Definition Selections: 5 Immune and 9 BSP proposals

SALMON AO (Small Complete Missions of Opportunity in FSB)Theme areas: Fundamental Space Biology investigations on microbes, cells or small animals. Schedule:Up to 2 Missions will be selectedAO Release: Sept. 3, 2008 (original release)AO Re-release: Sep 22, 2009NOI Due: October 6, 2009Proposals Due: November 21, 2009

Free Flyer Solicitations

Domestic Free Flyers

Experiments Completed• GeneBox (Bigelow Genesis 1; 7/12/06): A non-deployable Technology

Demonstration testing satellite bus and payload technology components of GeneSat-1.

• GeneSat-1 (Minotaur-1; 12/16/06): Technology Demonstration validating autonomous, in-situ small (nanosatellite-class) spacecraft capabilities to conduct an E. coli growth science/technology demonstration.

• PreSat (Falcon 1; 8/2/08): PharmaSat-1 Technology Demonstration. Flight terminated due to Launch Vehicle failure.

• PharmaSat-1 (Minotaur-1; May 2009): Microgravity effect on yeast susceptibility to antifungal drugs in the space environment.

Russian Free Flyers

Experiments Completed• Foton M2 (5/31/05): Four NASA sponsored bacteria, snails, geckos and newts

Russian collaboration experiments. • Foton M3 (Launch 9/14/07): Follow on experiments for Foton M2 collaborations.

FSB Free Flyer Research

Domestic Free Flyers

Experiments Under Development• SMD/ESMD SALMON (StandALone Mission of Opportunity Notice) -2009

– Fundamental Space Biology (FSB) Mission of Opportunity 1 (MoO-1)– FSB Mission of Opportunity 2 (MoO-2)

• 3 MicroSat Free Flyer Flights and up to 4 Mission of Opportunities (2009-2014).

Russian Free Flyers

Experiments Under Development• Bion M1 BSP (Launch 9/2012): Determine immunological and other effects of

lengthy periods of weightlessness on mice. • Other Russian free flyer opportunities

FSB Free Flyer Research

Additional Information

Recent Biology Investments in Free Flyers

• Russian Foton / Bion recoverable capsules as primary vehicles onRussian launcher.

• Domestic non-recoverable micro- / nano- satellites as secondary payload on domestic government or commercial launcher.

• Astrobiology Small Payloads (ASP) Program is currently supporting a nanosatellite based dual payload science demonstration mission. Organics/Organismal Response to Orbital Environmental Stresses (O/OREOS) builds on the Gensat/Pharmasat platform but contains two independent payloads and supports multiple science objectives

Year

1975‐2003August 1992 January 2000September 1978 January 1990

NASA Biological Research Flight Publications

Objectives:

• Plasmid: Spaceflight effects on structural stability and genetic information transfer in plasmid pIJ702 of Actinomycetes streptomyces lividans 66.

• Receptor: Structure and function of the gravi-sensing statocyst system following an earth’s orbital mission.

• Gecko and Regeneration: Determine if the low level mechanical loading environment created by microgravity alters the proliferation rates of somatic stem cells involved in newt and gecko tissue regeneration.

• Foton-M3 is an opportunity to confirm results, improve research techniques, and expand the areas of inquiry based on the Foton-M2 results.

– Foton-M2 produced data on genetic structures, genetic stability, molecular-biological mechanisms of cell proliferation, tissue regeneration, and the effect of microgravity on the electro-physiology of gravity sensing.

PIs: Plasmid: Drs. Tatiana A. Voeikova, Genetics Research Center, Moscow, Russia and Barry H. Pyle, Montana State UniversityRegeneration: Drs. Victor I. Mitashov, of the Koltsov Institute of Devel. Biol. (IDB). Moscow, & E. A.C. Almeida, NASA ARCGecko: Drs. Segei V. Savelyev of the Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, and Eduardo A.C. Almeida, NASA ARCReceptor: Drs. Pavel M. Balaban of the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Moscow, Russia & Ri. D. Boyle, NASA ARC

Foton M-2 mission May 31 – June 16, 2005Foton-M3 mission September 14-26, 2007

Foton-M2 and Foton-M3

GeneBox Hosted Payload

Genesat-1 launched on 12/16/06 aboard a USAF Minotaur-1

• Secondary Payload with Tacsat-2 primary• Spacecraft mass 7.1 kg (4.1 kg + 3 kg adapter)• Spacecraft volume 14” x 4” x 4”• 60 day mission duration; 96 hr Biology exp.• Measured GFP and Optical Density of E. coli• All Mission objectives fully accomplished

Ames Research Center

GeneSat-1 Technology Demonstration

Principal Investigator: David Niesel (Michael McGinnis), Ph.D.

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)

Effect of Microgravity upon YeastSusceptibility to Anti-fungal Drugs

– Saccharomyces cerevisiae• Model organism, well studied

– Grow in different concentrations of antifungal• Three concentrations and control (no antifungal)• Twelve wells per condition

– Compare results of flight and ground

Card Laminate Assembly

Card Assembly View

60-well BioFluidics card

Fluidics/Sample Handling Block Diagram

• Measure and determine the effect microgravity has on yeast resistance to an antifungal agent.

• Provide life support and environmental control for yeast growth in 48 independent microwells.

• Track the yeast culture density and health in each microwell.

• Launched on 05/05/09 aboard a with USAF Minotaur-1 with the Tacsat-3 primary payload.

PharmaSat-1 Proof of Concept

Astrobiology spinoff

Organism/ORganics Exposure to Orbital Stresses (O/OREOS)-NanoSatellite

Mission Goal:Demonstrate Demonstrate autonomous, in-situbiological organism and organic specimen exposure & detection technologies aboard free-flying nanosatellites in support of ASP objectives

Demonstrate Demonstrate the capability for low-cost replicate spaceflight experiments on nanosatellites for current and future applications

Demonstrate Demonstrate that single-cube interchangeable instruments can do scientifically significant biology & chemistry experiments

Demonstrate Demonstrate versatility of triple-cube format: 5 kg of low-cost self-contained science experimentation suitable for any Earth orbit, moon, Mars, beyond

Dual Payload• 1. BIO: two types of living biological

specimens, with active optical measurement of growth and/or metabolic activity

• 2. ORGANIC: four reaction-cell-supported environments containing organic molecules, with UV-visible spectroscopic characterization

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SMD SALMON AO (FSB Element)

• A maximum of two individual investigations will be selected.

• The first selected investigation is expected to utilize hardware being developed for the PharmaSat-1.

• The second selected investigation is expected to utilize the PharmaSat-1 flight hardware bus platforms and payload interfaces, but may also utilize other proposed instrument and payload elements.

• Both selected investigations are anticipated to focus on microbe-based studies.– Proposals utilizing other small

organisms will be considered provided they demonstrate the capability to meet the constraints of the solicited opportunity.

Dec 31, 2011

Dec 31, 2011

Sep 15,, 2009?

Sep 15,, 2009?Sep 15, 2009?

Sep 15, 2009?

Nov 15, 2009?Nov 15, 2009?

Aug 15, 2009?

Aug 15, 2009?

31 ARC NExP Overview -May 20-21 2009

http ov://salmon‐h3‐pip.arc.nasa.g