Space Station Biological Research Project (SSBRP) Cell Culture Unit (CCU) and incubator for International Space Station (ISS) cell culture experiments.
The CCU and Incubator are habitats under development by SSBRP for gravitational biology research on ISS. They will accommodate multiple specimen types and reside in either Habitat Holding Racks, or the Centrifuge Rotor, which provides selectable gravity levels of up to 2 g. The CCU can support multiple Cell Specimen Chambers, CSCs (18, 9 or 6 CSCs; 3, 10 or 30 mL in volume, respectively). CSCs are temperature controlled from 4-39 degrees C, with heat shock to 45 degrees C. CCU provides automated nutrient supply, magnetic stirring, pH/O2 monitoring, gas supply, specimen lighting, and video microscopy. Sixty sample containers holding up to 2 mL each, stored at 4-39 degrees C, are available for automated cell sampling, subculture, and injection of additives and fixatives. CSCs, sample containers, and fresh/spent media bags are crew-replaceable for long-term experiments. The Incubator provides a 4-45 degrees C controlled environment for life science experiments or storage of experimental reagents. Specimen containers and experiment unique equipment are experimenter-provided. The Specimen Chamber exchanges air with ISS cabin and has 18.8 liters of usable volume that can accommodate six trays and the following instrumentation: five relocatable thermometers, two 60 W power outlets, four analog ports, and one each relative humidity sensor, video port, ethernet port and digital input/output port.
Vandendriesche
Donald
D
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA. dvandendriesche@mail.arc.nasa.gov
Parrish
Joseph
J
Kirven-Brooks
Melissa
M
Fahlen
Thomas
T
Larenas
Patricia
P
Havens
Cindy
C
Nakamura
Gail
G
Sun
Liping
L
Krebs
Chris
C
de Luis
Javier
J
Vunjak-Novakovic
Gordana
G
Searby
Nancy D
ND
D001331:Automation; D019149:Bioreactors; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D004867:Equipment Design; D018471:Hypergravity; D007185:Incubators; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D013026:Space Flight / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018531:Spacecraft / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014893:Weightlessness
D003470:Culture Media