title: Space Station Biological Research Project (SSBRP) Cell Culture Unit (CCU) and incubator for International Space Station (ISS) cell culture experiments.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA. dvandendriesche@mail.arc.nasa.gov
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vandendriesche
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parrish
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirven-Brooks
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fahlen
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Larenas
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Havens
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krebs
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Luis
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vunjak-Novakovic
authors.forename: Nancy D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Searby
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media