Research
Assessment of Scientific Payload Carrying Spirulina Onboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard Vehicle
The research team at ERAU and UTHSCSA analyzed the effects of suborbital flight stressors and various light conditions (red, white, no light) on the Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina), onboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle. Commercially available cyanobacterium species were cultivated and closely monitored in mother colonies several months before the suborbital flight mission. The aim of this study was to estimate the biomass production and growth as a potential dietary alternative for prospective human spaceflight's life support system. Spirulina samples were flown in a NanoLab with adjacent avionics supporting the light conditions and sensors to monitor the temperature, relative humidity, and accelerations. The various flight parameters measured in the NanoLab were validated with the flight data gathered by Nanoracks, the flight integrator. Thus, we also assessed the effect of microgravity and different light conditions on the gene expression. Our data indicates that the Spirulina samples onboard the rocket had significant (p < 0.01-0.0001) downregulation of majority of the gene expression. However, when comparing different light effects, the red light had the most significant effect on most genes, especially for genes involved in magnesium (mgtE) and nitrate-nitrite (nrtP) transport. Finally, we used laser-scanning confocal microscopy to provide high-resolution imaging visualizations of the Spirulina under different conditions (ground, flight, and light conditions). Results indicate that flight samples exposed to red light had the most profound effect on gene expression and showed an enhanced behavior suggesting that photosynthetic organisms are influenced by light energy. Our findings indicate that Spirulina may be able to survive and grow under various light conditions and at lower temperatures than optimally cultivated conditions for several weeks.
High Altitude Science Experiments aboard NASA’s WB-57 Airborne Research Platform
Purpose: Exposure to space radiation may place astronauts at significant health risks. This is an under-investigated area of research and therefore more knowledge is needed to better plan long-term space missions. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of radiation on murine naïve and activated T lymphocytes (T cells) and to test the effectiveness of thermal, radiation and flight tracking technology in biological scientific payloads. We cultured cells in specific cytokines known to increase their viability and exposed them to either flight or had them as ground controls. Flight cells were kept under proper environmental conditions by using an active thermal system, whereas the levels of radiation were measured by NASA’s Timepix radiation sensor during ascent, cruise at 60,000 feet, and descent. In addition, an Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) device was utilized to track the state vector of the aircraft during flight.
