Title: PGBA4 / CGBA2 Payload on ISS.9A BioServe Space Technologies A Life Sciences
1PGBA4 / CGBA2 Payload on ISS.9ABioServe Space
TechnologiesA Life Sciences NASA Commercial
Space Center
CGBA
PGBA
- Alex Hoehn Assoc. Director Engineering
- BioServe Space Technologies, 429, UCB, Boulder,
CO 80309-0429, Tel. (303) 492-1005, Fax (303)
492-8883
2PGBA-4 STS-112 / ISS.9A
3PGBA-4 STS-112 / ISS.9A
4PGBA-4 STS-112 / ISS.9A
- Payload Overview PGBA-4 / STS-112 ISS.9A -gt
ISS.11A Inc.5 - Science Summary.
- Reflight (4th) of PGBA, first ISS flight.
- Modifications since STS-94.
- Split coolant system / dual pump.
- Modified nutrient delivery for timed germination.
- Plant Access on Orbit
- Open Payload on Orbit
- Reverification of plant chamber seal.
5Science Overview
- Investigate time course of genetic changes due to
microgravity exposure - 30 Arabidopsis thaliana plants
- Biologically simple (mustard-type plant).
- Fast growth rate matures in 4-6 weeks.
- Entire genome sequenced.
- Two crops during Inc.5, automated, time-
staggered germination, some germinated
pre-launch - 1st crop sown pre-flight, multiple automated
germinations, single harvest, fixed on-orbit. - 2nd crop sown in-flight, automated germination,
fixed on ground post-flight.
Mature plant, 4-6 weeks.
Plant as harvested from PGBA, 3 weeks.
6PGBA Payload Overview
PGBA-03 STS-94 in Proto-EXPRESS / Spacelab.
PGBA-04 Mufflers for ISS.
STS-77 10 day mission STS-83 4 day aborted
MSL-1 STS-94 16 day MSL-1
No PGBA anomalies,but - transfer issues / lesson
learned
7Transfer Operations PGBA to / from ISS
PGBA Transfer Middeck to Spacelab, STS-94.
8Operations Open PGBA Faceplate
Plant Chamber lid still closed Inspect for free
water.
- 4 locker latches open.
- Faceplate rotated around bottom edge (hinged).
9Remove Plant Chamber Lid Screws
10 captive fasteners (1-2 turns). Pull lid
uniformly (parallel) from chamber.
10Harvesting Plant
Reach in, rotate each insert 2-3 turns ccw, then
remove insert with plant. Repeat for all 30
plants, fix and store in CGBA. Insert new seed
plug, rotate cw until tight.
Harvesting / Insertion of new seed plug (30x)
into PGBA.
11ISS Operations Harvesting
Fixative Tube
Plunger rod connect after plant insertion
End cap remove to insert plant
- Remove fixative tube from CGBA, harvest plant,
place plant in tube, attach plunger rod, inject
fixative - slowly, store in CGBA. - Repeat for entire PGBA crop 30x.
12Operations Sowing
Removable Plug
- Place new dry seed plugs into PGBA root tray, one
at a time (30x). - Close chamber lid, hand-tighten 10 captive
fasteners 2-3 times to ensure good seal. - Close PGBA faceplate, aligning pins and locking
latches (4x). - Reconnect cables, power up PGBA.
- Replace mufflers.
- Perform PGBA Status Check.
Plastic Covered
Steel Wire
Small Plastic
Centrifuge
Tube
Plastic
Felt
Line
13Re-Attach and Re-seal Plant Chamber Lid
Tighten screws 2-3 times around
Attach chamber lid and push down. Tighten 10
captive fasteners (1-2 turns) going around
perimeter until finger-tight. Finger-tighten 1-2
more times to ensure proper seal. (Optional
battery-powered screw driver with Phillips head
bit.)
5
2-3 times
4
1
2
3
14PGBA Plant Chamber
15Atmosphere Treatment System
16Atmosphere Treatment System
- Atmosphere Treatment Cartridge
- Barium Hydroxide
- Activated Charcoal
- 3 levels of containment
- Stainless steel frit
- Glass mesh
- Stainless steel screen
17Humidity Control / Condensate Recovery
18PGBA-4 Pictures
19PGBA-4 Pictures
20PGBA-4 Pictures
21PGBA-4 Pictures
22PGBA-4 Pictures
23PGBA-4 Pictures
24PGBA-4 Pictures
25PGBA-4 Pictures