The opportunity to perform longer and more complex microbiological and cellular studies grows as the duration of space flights increase. However, instrumentation to support the study of cellular growth in microgravity conditions has been designed to support only the minimum of experimental procedures and does not allow for prolonged growth periods. Yet, many microbiological experiments require multiple generations or complex multi-step procedures in highly-controlled conditions. Consequently, the opportunity to carry out complex microbiological experiments in a microgravity environment is extremely difficult. The PIN (Programmable Incubator) unit described will overcome these difficulties by providing the experimenter with a wide range of innovative capabilities for fluid, organism and media transfer, environmental control and monitoring, and spectral and optical analysis in a completely autonomous unit. Complete programmability of the PIN allows experimenters to design studies that span many generations of quickly reproducing organisms, and to make on-going modifications to experimental regimes and conditions based upon the monitoring and control of temperature, pH, or on optical observations. The PIN was specifically designed for use in Shuttle middeck lockers or in the ISS EXPRESS Rack.
Potential Commercial Applications:The PIN unit has enormous commercial potential for areas which involve pharmaceutical research and development, and biohazardous materials handling such as serology of virus-contaminated blood. Applications are also discussed for providing first-time access to small companies desiring micro-gravity research opportunities.Della Enterprises Saint Vrain Lyons, co
