Jutta Krause
European Space Research and Technology Centre, Netherlands
Title: Life science in space: How it is/can be done and what has been achieved so far
Biography
Biography: Jutta Krause
Abstract
The European Space Agency (ESA) is an organisation of 22 member states. ESA’s mandate is to provide and to promote, for exclusively peaceful purpose, the cooperation among ESA member states in space research and technologies, as well as their space applications. This includes life science research on the International Space Station (ISS) in particular within the Columbus module. One of ESAs very successful equipment to conduct life science experiments in space is KUBIK, a 37x37x37 cm3 temperature controlled box, which was designed and developed in 2004. Since 2006 KUBIK is operating as a centre-isle unit inside of the Columbus module. It allows scientists to conduct experiments fully automated under microgravity conditions. Samples are returned to ground and the effects of exposure to the environmental conditions on the ISS can be investigated in the home laboratory. KUBIK has, over the years, hosted experiments on bacteria, fungi, human white blood cells, stem cells of various types, plant seedlings, and life tadpoles. A currently pending experiment will examine how microbial biofilms interact with rock surfaces across different gravity levels (weightlessness, Mars and Earth gravity). Results have been published by the scientists in various journals.
Because biological experiments are very volnuable, experiment preparation is a crucial part of the work. The careful planning of the experiment accounting for the ‘upload-’ and ‘download scenarios’ and the ‘no access to sample’ requires thourough testing upfront. Special designed harware needs science verification testing to ensure samples are turnde to the science laoratoy in useful quality.