Scientific Utilization of EMCS - Presentation of completed and upcoming experiments
- Paper number
IAC-07-A2.6.08
- Author
Mr. Ulrich Kuebler, EADS Astrium Space Transportation, Germany
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The European Modular Cultivation System EMCS was launched as a multi-user life science facility with the space shuttle mission ULF1 in July of 2006. EMCS which is used under a joint NASA/ESA utilization agreement was designed mainly to support experiments in the field of - perception and signal transduction in plant tropism - plant and insect gametogenisis - long term physiological and genetic stability in plants and insects, multigeneration studies - development events in plants, insects, amphibia, birds and mammalian cells - mechanism of radiation damage in cells, tissues and whole The main features of EMCS are: - temperature controlled incubator, 18°C to 40°C - two centrifuges, controlled speed 10-3 x g to 2 x g - automatic gas composition and control in the incubator - automatic water supply to experiment containers - automatic humidity control at experiment containers - exchangeable rotors - Illumination/observation of samples under rotation - Flexible telescience capability Since the launch and commissioning of the facility 2 experiments have been completed successfully, a 3rd experiment is scheduled for July 2007: Tropi: Analysis of a Novel Sensory Mechanism in Root Phototropism Gravi-1: Threshold Acceleration for Gravisensing Multigen-1: Microgravity Effects on Multigeneration Studies of Arabidopsis thaliana. The presentation will focus on these completed experiments, as well as on the further planned experiments Cell Wall \& Resist Wall (JAXA), Genara. Nematodes, Gravi-2 and Multigen-2/-3
- Abstract document