National Aeronautics and Space Administration Free Flyer Utilization for Biology Research John W. Hines Chief Technologist, Engineering Directorate Technical Director, Nanosatellite Missions NASA-Ames Research Center NASA Applications of BioScience/BioTechnology HumanHuman ExplorationExploration EmphasisEmphasis FundamentalFundamental ExploratiExploratioonn Subsystems BiologyBiology Subsystems EmphasisEmphasis HumansHumans SmallSmall OrganismsOrganisms (Mice,(Mice, Rats) Rats) TiTissussue,e, O Orrgansgans MammalianMammalian CellsCells Human Health Emphasis ModelModel Organisms, BioMolecules Organisms, BioMolecules MicrobesMicrobes 2 4 Free-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 Early Free Flyers NASA Biosatellite I, II, 1966-67 NASA Biosatellite III, 1969 Nominal 3d flights Nominal 20d flight • Response to microgravity & • Spaceflight responses of non-human radiation: various biological species primates • Onboard radiation source 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 Long Duration rodent study Microgravity effects on w/ or w/o on-board radiation Artificial gravity, radiation Mission adult rodents and source for microgravity- or longer duration rodent Focus: smaller specimens radiation synergy microgravity study Systems biology Russian (bone, muscle, Focus: neuroscience, …) Radiation Health Artificial Gravity No. PIs: 10-15 10-20 10-20 Domestic Free Flyers Roles of Very Small Spacecraft • Science and Exploration Missions – Biological Sciences – Astrobiology – Astrophysics – Space Sciences – Space Physics – Lunar Sciences Payload packages on larger spacecraft • Technology Demonstrations – Propulsion • Flight heritage from – Communications Cubesat missions – Mass reduction - MEMS/NEMS NASA/ARC •Use Cubesat derived – Autonomous operations technologies to support – Formation flying/constellations other spacecraft – Novel space architectures - tethers – Evolvable, reconfigurable satellites missions • Lunar Orbiters • Lunar Landers CalTech LANL Aerospace Corp 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+) 12 MicroSatellite Free Flyer (µSat-FF) Project ScienceScience TargetsTargets && ApplicationsApplications • 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 Goal: develop modular, broadly-applicable Sample Management, Culturing technology platform that … • elucidates molecular biological effects of µ‐fluidics microgravity + radiation space-flight µ‐wellplates environment: gene & protein expression, Detection and Analysis metabolites Diffuse fluorescence, • is applicable to many micro- and small luminescence organisms: single/multicellular; adherent, Spatial Imaging non-adherent, motile cytometry • is designed for fully autonomous life support, sample processing, analysis Single-wavelength • is reconfigurable, modular in design; Multi-wavelength i.e. “replicate friendly” multiwell approach PCR • supports multiple measurement strategies and tools DNA, Spectroscopy protein • has minimum practical size, weight, power µarrays consumption: low-cost 2° payloads Applicability: Free-Flyers, ISS, Gnd R&D, Xfer Microsat Free Flyer Multi-Year Schedule Status FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 1 4 4 4 1 1 2 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 3 4 PharmaSat (Msat FF1) MoO* MSat FF/MoO 1 MSat FF/MoO 2 Msat FF 2 MoO 3 Msat FF 3 MoO 4 Msat FF 4 MoO5 Planning Phase B Solicitation & Selection Phase C Data Analysis & Report Pre‐Phase A Phase D Launch Phase A Phase E/F 16 Note: Schedule beyond FY 2014 is notional E/PO EXAMPLE: GeneSat-1 Student Involvement Preparing the next generation of engineers with hands-on experience, solving real world problems Pre-Launch/Mission Operations 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 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 Free Flyer Solicitations Bion M1 NRA (Immunology and BSP) Theme areas: Immune Function Biospeciman Sharing Program: rodent investigations Exploration Relevance: Understanding long term space environment effects on immune function can provide insight to space exploration crew health risk. Schedule: 43 Step-1 proposals received 39 invited to submit Step-2 proposals 33 Step-2 proposals received Science 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 selected AO Release: