<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Spaceflight experiments offer a unique environment for fundamental research in biology. Utilization of microgravity environments has provided insights into how plants and animals perceive and respond to gravity, or the lack thereof. However, performing spaceflight experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) requires years of planning and testing before execution. A few of the complex steps preceding the experiment include: development of the experimental timeline and programming of experimental equipment, testing hardware for biocompatibility, planning the logistics of sending samples to NASA or ESA centers for testing, and launching samples to the ISS. In this paper, using the Seedling Growth-2 spaceflight experiment as an example, we cover the entire timeline leading up to a flight experiment. These events include the Schedule Test, the Operations and Validations Test (OVT), and the Flight Build and Experiment, as well as the post-flight sample processing.</p></abstract>

Spaceflight experiments offer a unique environment for fundamental research in biology. Utilization of microgravity environments has provided insights into how plants and animals perceive and respond to gravity, or the lack thereof. However, performing spaceflight experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) requires years of planning and testing before execution. A few of the complex steps preceding the experiment include: development of the experimental timeline and programming of experimental equipment, testing hardware for biocompatibility, planning the logistics of sending samples to NASA or ESA centers for testing, and launching samples to the ISS. In this paper, using the Seedling Growth-2 spaceflight experiment as an example, we cover the entire timeline leading up to a flight experiment. These events include the Schedule Test, the Operations and Validations Test (OVT), and the Flight Build and Experiment, as well as the post-flight sample processing.

Spaceflight Procedures and Operations Utilized During the Seedling Growth Experiments

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Gravitational and Space Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Spaceflight experiments offer a unique environment for fundamental research in biology. Utilization of microgravity environments has provided insights into how...

Spaceflight Procedures and Operations Utilized During the Seedling Growth Experiments

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Jul 18, 2020

Page range: 38 - 46

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2016-0011

Keywords
Gravitropism, Hardware, Phototropism, Seedling Growth, Spaceflight

© 2020 Joshua P. Vandenbrink et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Spaceflight Procedures and Operations Utilized During the Seedling Growth Experiments

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Jul 18, 2020

Page range: 38 - 46

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2016-0011

KeywordsGravitropism, Hardware, Phototropism, Seedling Growth, Spaceflight

© 2020 Joshua P. Vandenbrink et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Gravitropism, Hardware, Phototropism, Seedling Growth, Spaceflight