Sophia Chen, J. Hatch, A. Luck, N. Nichols, Emily J Gleason, K. Martin, Kevin D. Foley, D. Scott Copeland, Sebastian Kraves, E. Saavedra
Abstract As human exploration extends further into deep space, it is critical to understand the cellular impacts of spaceflight in order to ensure the safety of future astronauts. Extended exposure to cosmic radiation and microgravity has been shown to cause genetic damage and impair cellular DNA repair mechanisms, which together can lead to genomic instability. In particular, microsatellite instability (MSI), in which dysfunction in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) causes alterations in tandemly repeated “microsatellite” sequences, is a manifestation of genomic instability that has been associated with certain cancers. In this study, we establish the feasibility of an on-orbit multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay to detect mutations in cancer-related microsatellites. Multiplex PCR was used to amplify five quasimonomorphic microsatellites in space and on Earth from both wild-type and MMR-deficient human cell lines. These data provide proof of concept of simultaneous amplification of multiple DNA sequences in space, expanding in-flight research and health-monitoring capabilities.
{"title":"Detection of DNA Microsatellites Using Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Aboard the International Space Station","authors":"Sophia Chen, J. Hatch, A. Luck, N. Nichols, Emily J Gleason, K. Martin, Kevin D. Foley, D. Scott Copeland, Sebastian Kraves, E. Saavedra","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2021-0013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2021-0013","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract As human exploration extends further into deep space, it is critical to understand the cellular impacts of spaceflight in order to ensure the safety of future astronauts. Extended exposure to cosmic radiation and microgravity has been shown to cause genetic damage and impair cellular DNA repair mechanisms, which together can lead to genomic instability. In particular, microsatellite instability (MSI), in which dysfunction in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) causes alterations in tandemly repeated “microsatellite” sequences, is a manifestation of genomic instability that has been associated with certain cancers. In this study, we establish the feasibility of an on-orbit multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay to detect mutations in cancer-related microsatellites. Multiplex PCR was used to amplify five quasimonomorphic microsatellites in space and on Earth from both wild-type and MMR-deficient human cell lines. These data provide proof of concept of simultaneous amplification of multiple DNA sequences in space, expanding in-flight research and health-monitoring capabilities.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83130508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brandon Califar, Agata K. Zupanska, Jordan A. Callaham, M. Bamsey, T. Graham, A. Paul, R. Ferl
Abstract The increasing availability of flights on suborbital rockets creates new avenues for the study of spaceflight effects on biological systems, particularly of the transitions between hypergravity and microgravity. This paper presents an initial comparison of the responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to suborbital and atmospheric parabolic flights as an important step toward characterizing these emerging suborbital platforms and their effects on biology. Transcriptomic profiling of the response of the Arabidopsis ecotype Wassilewskija (WS) to the aggregate suborbital spaceflight experiences in Blue Origin New Shepard and Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo revealed that the transcriptomic load induced by flight differed between the two flights, yet was biologically related to traditional parabolic flight responses. The sku5 skewing mutant and 14-3-3κ:GFP regulatory protein overexpression lines, flown in the Blue Origin and parabolic flights, respectively, each showed altered intra-platform responses compared to WS. An additional parabolic flight using the F-104 Starfighter showed that the response of 14-3-3κ:GFP to flight was modulated in a similar manner to the WS line. Despite the differing genotypes, experimental workflows, flight profiles, and platforms, differential gene expression linked to remodeling of central metabolic processes was commonly observed in the flight responses. However, the timing and directionality of differentially expressed genes involved in the conserved processes differed among the platforms. The processes included carbon and nitrogen metabolism, branched-chain amino acid degradation, and hypoxic responses. The data presented herein highlight the potential for various suborbital platforms to contribute insights into biological responses to spaceflight, and further suggest that in-flight fixation during suborbital experiments will enhance insights into responses during each phase of flight.
{"title":"Shared Metabolic Remodeling Processes Characterize the Transcriptome of Arabidopsis thaliana within Various Suborbital Flight Environments","authors":"Brandon Califar, Agata K. Zupanska, Jordan A. Callaham, M. Bamsey, T. Graham, A. Paul, R. Ferl","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2021-0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2021-0002","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The increasing availability of flights on suborbital rockets creates new avenues for the study of spaceflight effects on biological systems, particularly of the transitions between hypergravity and microgravity. This paper presents an initial comparison of the responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to suborbital and atmospheric parabolic flights as an important step toward characterizing these emerging suborbital platforms and their effects on biology. Transcriptomic profiling of the response of the Arabidopsis ecotype Wassilewskija (WS) to the aggregate suborbital spaceflight experiences in Blue Origin New Shepard and Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo revealed that the transcriptomic load induced by flight differed between the two flights, yet was biologically related to traditional parabolic flight responses. The sku5 skewing mutant and 14-3-3κ:GFP regulatory protein overexpression lines, flown in the Blue Origin and parabolic flights, respectively, each showed altered intra-platform responses compared to WS. An additional parabolic flight using the F-104 Starfighter showed that the response of 14-3-3κ:GFP to flight was modulated in a similar manner to the WS line. Despite the differing genotypes, experimental workflows, flight profiles, and platforms, differential gene expression linked to remodeling of central metabolic processes was commonly observed in the flight responses. However, the timing and directionality of differentially expressed genes involved in the conserved processes differed among the platforms. The processes included carbon and nitrogen metabolism, branched-chain amino acid degradation, and hypoxic responses. The data presented herein highlight the potential for various suborbital platforms to contribute insights into biological responses to spaceflight, and further suggest that in-flight fixation during suborbital experiments will enhance insights into responses during each phase of flight.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78189660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The Modal Propellant Gauging (MPG) experiment has demonstrated sub-1% gauging accuracy under laboratory conditions on both flight hardware and subscale tanks. Recently, MPG was adapted for flight on Blue Origin's New Shepard vehicle and has flown twice, achieving equilibrated, zero-g surface configurations of propellant simulant at three different fill fractions. Flight data from MPG missions on New Shepard P7 and P9 show agreement between known and measured propellant levels of 0.3% for the fill fractions investigated in the present study. Two approaches for estimating zero-g propellant mass are described here. Both approaches rely on measuring shifts in modal frequencies of a tank excited by acoustic surface waves and subject to fluid mass loading by the propellant. In the first approach, shifts in the lowest mode frequency (LMF) are measured and associated with liquid fill-level changes. In the second approach, 1-g modal spectra at a range of known fill levels are used in a cross-correlation calculation to predict fill levels associated with a zero-g modal spectrum. Flight data for both approaches are consistent with finite element predictions using a simple fluid–structure interaction model. In both settled and unsettled microgravity environments, MPG meets or exceeds NASA Roadmap goals for in-space propellant mass gauging.
{"title":"Liquid Propellant Mass Measurement in Microgravity","authors":"K. Crosby, R. Werlink, E. Hurlbert","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2021-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2021-0004","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The Modal Propellant Gauging (MPG) experiment has demonstrated sub-1% gauging accuracy under laboratory conditions on both flight hardware and subscale tanks. Recently, MPG was adapted for flight on Blue Origin's New Shepard vehicle and has flown twice, achieving equilibrated, zero-g surface configurations of propellant simulant at three different fill fractions. Flight data from MPG missions on New Shepard P7 and P9 show agreement between known and measured propellant levels of 0.3% for the fill fractions investigated in the present study. Two approaches for estimating zero-g propellant mass are described here. Both approaches rely on measuring shifts in modal frequencies of a tank excited by acoustic surface waves and subject to fluid mass loading by the propellant. In the first approach, shifts in the lowest mode frequency (LMF) are measured and associated with liquid fill-level changes. In the second approach, 1-g modal spectra at a range of known fill levels are used in a cross-correlation calculation to predict fill levels associated with a zero-g modal spectrum. Flight data for both approaches are consistent with finite element predictions using a simple fluid–structure interaction model. In both settled and unsettled microgravity environments, MPG meets or exceeds NASA Roadmap goals for in-space propellant mass gauging.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82508083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elizabeth Reizis, D. Cai, Lee Serpas, Emily J Gleason, K. Martin, Kevin D. Foley, D. S. Copeland, Sebastian Kraves, E. Saavedra
Abstract Spaceflight offers vast possibilities for expanding human exploration, whereas it also bears unique health risks. One of these risks is immune dysfunction, which can result in the reactivation of latent pathogens and increased susceptibility to infections. The ability to monitor the function of the immune system is critical for planning successful long-term space travel. T lymphocytes are immune cells that develop in the thymus and circulate in the blood. They can detect foreign, infected, or cancerous cells through T cell receptors (TCRs). The assembly of TCR gene segments, to produce functional TCR genes, can be monitored by measuring the presence of TCR excision circles (TRECs), circular fragments of DNA that are by-products of this assembly process mediated by the V(D)J recombination machinery. In this study, we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the International Space Station (ISS) to detect TRECs in murine peripheral blood. We were able to detect TRECs in the blood of normal healthy mice of different ages, with an efficiency comparable to that achieved in ground controls. As expected, we were unable to detect TRECs in the blood of immunodeficient mice. These results are the first step in optimizing a specific, rapid, safe, and cost-effective PCR-based assay to measure the integrity of mammalian immune systems during spaceflight.
{"title":"Toward the Analysis of Lymphocyte Development in Space: PCR-Based Amplification of T-Cell Receptor Excision Circles (TRECs) Aboard the International Space Station","authors":"Elizabeth Reizis, D. Cai, Lee Serpas, Emily J Gleason, K. Martin, Kevin D. Foley, D. S. Copeland, Sebastian Kraves, E. Saavedra","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2021-0012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2021-0012","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Spaceflight offers vast possibilities for expanding human exploration, whereas it also bears unique health risks. One of these risks is immune dysfunction, which can result in the reactivation of latent pathogens and increased susceptibility to infections. The ability to monitor the function of the immune system is critical for planning successful long-term space travel. T lymphocytes are immune cells that develop in the thymus and circulate in the blood. They can detect foreign, infected, or cancerous cells through T cell receptors (TCRs). The assembly of TCR gene segments, to produce functional TCR genes, can be monitored by measuring the presence of TCR excision circles (TRECs), circular fragments of DNA that are by-products of this assembly process mediated by the V(D)J recombination machinery. In this study, we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the International Space Station (ISS) to detect TRECs in murine peripheral blood. We were able to detect TRECs in the blood of normal healthy mice of different ages, with an efficiency comparable to that achieved in ground controls. As expected, we were unable to detect TRECs in the blood of immunodeficient mice. These results are the first step in optimizing a specific, rapid, safe, and cost-effective PCR-based assay to measure the integrity of mammalian immune systems during spaceflight.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90139866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract In preparation of a flight experiment, ground-based studies for optimizing the growth of radishes (Raphanus sativus) were conducted at the ground-based Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) unit at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. The APH provides a large, environmentally controlled chamber that has been used to grow various plants, such as Arabidopsis, wheat, peppers, and now radish. In support of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s goals to provide astronauts with fresh vegetables and fruits in a confined space, it is important to extend the cultivation period to produce substantial biomass. We selected Raphanus sativus cv. Cherry Belle as test variety both for preliminary tests and flight experiments because it provides edible biomass in as few as four weeks, has desirable secondary metabolites (glucosinolates), is rich in minerals, and requires relatively little space. We report our strategies to optimize the growth substrate, watering regimen, light settings, and planting design that produces good-sized radishes, minimizes competition, and allows for easy harvesting. This information will be applicable for growth optimization of other crop plants that will be grown in the APH or other future plant growth facilities.
{"title":"Space Flight Cultivation for Radish (Raphanus sativus) in the Advanced Plant Habitat","authors":"S. John, Farid Abou-Issa, K. Hasenstein","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2021-0010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2021-0010","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In preparation of a flight experiment, ground-based studies for optimizing the growth of radishes (Raphanus sativus) were conducted at the ground-based Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) unit at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. The APH provides a large, environmentally controlled chamber that has been used to grow various plants, such as Arabidopsis, wheat, peppers, and now radish. In support of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s goals to provide astronauts with fresh vegetables and fruits in a confined space, it is important to extend the cultivation period to produce substantial biomass. We selected Raphanus sativus cv. Cherry Belle as test variety both for preliminary tests and flight experiments because it provides edible biomass in as few as four weeks, has desirable secondary metabolites (glucosinolates), is rich in minerals, and requires relatively little space. We report our strategies to optimize the growth substrate, watering regimen, light settings, and planting design that produces good-sized radishes, minimizes competition, and allows for easy harvesting. This information will be applicable for growth optimization of other crop plants that will be grown in the APH or other future plant growth facilities.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72549294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Improvement of cryogenic fluid storage and transfer technology for in-space propulsion and storage systems is required for long-term space missions. Screened channel liquid acquisition devices (LADs) have long been used with storable propellants to deliver vapor-free liquid during engine restart and liquid transfer processes. The use of LADs with cryogenic fluids is problematic due to low temperatures associated with cryogenic fluids. External heat leaks will cause vapor bubbles to form within the LADs that are difficult to remove in the existing designs. A tapered LAD channel has been proposed to reliably remove vapor bubbles within the device without costly thrusting maneuvers or active separation systems. A model has been developed to predict bubble movement within tapered LAD channels, and subsequent ground testing was completed with a simulant fluid to provide model validation data. Suborbital microgravity testing of tapered LAD technology was recently completed with two different simulant fluids and demonstrated that the concept can passively expel vapor bubbles within the channel. Two additional suborbital flights have been funded to further develop this technology by investigating the performance of larger scale versions of the design.
{"title":"Using Tapered Channels to Improve LAD Performance for Cryogenic Fluids: Suborbital Testing Results","authors":"K. Supak, S. Green, A. McCleney","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2021-0009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2021-0009","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Improvement of cryogenic fluid storage and transfer technology for in-space propulsion and storage systems is required for long-term space missions. Screened channel liquid acquisition devices (LADs) have long been used with storable propellants to deliver vapor-free liquid during engine restart and liquid transfer processes. The use of LADs with cryogenic fluids is problematic due to low temperatures associated with cryogenic fluids. External heat leaks will cause vapor bubbles to form within the LADs that are difficult to remove in the existing designs. A tapered LAD channel has been proposed to reliably remove vapor bubbles within the device without costly thrusting maneuvers or active separation systems. A model has been developed to predict bubble movement within tapered LAD channels, and subsequent ground testing was completed with a simulant fluid to provide model validation data. Suborbital microgravity testing of tapered LAD technology was recently completed with two different simulant fluids and demonstrated that the concept can passively expel vapor bubbles within the channel. Two additional suborbital flights have been funded to further develop this technology by investigating the performance of larger scale versions of the design.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82144938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Tolsma, Kaetlyn T. Ryan, Jacob J. Torres, J. Richards, Z. Richardson, Eric S. Land, I. Perera, Colleen J. Doherty
Abstract For long-term space missions, it is necessary to understand how organisms respond to changes in gravity. Plant roots are positively gravitropic; the primary root grows parallel to gravity's pull even after being turned away from the direction of gravity. We examined if this gravitropic response varies depending on the time of day reorientation occurs. When plants were reoriented in relation to the gravity vector or placed in simulated microgravity, the magnitude of the root gravitropic response varied depending on the time of day the initial change in gravity occurred. The response was greatest when plants were reoriented at dusk, just before a period of rapid growth, and were minimal just before dawn as the plants entered a period of reduced root growth. We found that this variation in the magnitude of the gravitropic response persisted in constant light (CL) suggesting the variation is circadian-regulated. Gravitropic responses were disrupted in plants with disrupted circadian clocks, including plants overexpressing Circadian-clock Associated 1 (CCA1) and elf3-2, in the reorientation assay and on a 2D clinostat. These findings indicate that circadian-regulated pathways modulate the gravitropic responses, thus, highlighting the importance of considering and recording the time of day gravitropic experiments are performed.
{"title":"The Circadian-clock Regulates the Arabidopsis Gravitropic Response","authors":"J. Tolsma, Kaetlyn T. Ryan, Jacob J. Torres, J. Richards, Z. Richardson, Eric S. Land, I. Perera, Colleen J. Doherty","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2021-0014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2021-0014","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract For long-term space missions, it is necessary to understand how organisms respond to changes in gravity. Plant roots are positively gravitropic; the primary root grows parallel to gravity's pull even after being turned away from the direction of gravity. We examined if this gravitropic response varies depending on the time of day reorientation occurs. When plants were reoriented in relation to the gravity vector or placed in simulated microgravity, the magnitude of the root gravitropic response varied depending on the time of day the initial change in gravity occurred. The response was greatest when plants were reoriented at dusk, just before a period of rapid growth, and were minimal just before dawn as the plants entered a period of reduced root growth. We found that this variation in the magnitude of the gravitropic response persisted in constant light (CL) suggesting the variation is circadian-regulated. Gravitropic responses were disrupted in plants with disrupted circadian clocks, including plants overexpressing Circadian-clock Associated 1 (CCA1) and elf3-2, in the reorientation assay and on a 2D clinostat. These findings indicate that circadian-regulated pathways modulate the gravitropic responses, thus, highlighting the importance of considering and recording the time of day gravitropic experiments are performed.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80419388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Small, airless bodies are covered by a layer of regolith composed of particles ranging from μm-size dust to cm-size pebbles that evolve under conditions very different than those on Earth. Flight-based microgravity experiments investigating low-velocity collisions of cm-size projectiles into regolith have revealed that certain impact events result in a mass transfer from the target regolith onto the surface of the projectile. The key parameters that produce these events need to be characterized to understand the mechanical behavior of granular media, which is composed of the surfaces of small bodies. We carried out flight and ground-based research campaigns designed to investigate these mass transfer events. The goals of our experimental campaigns were (1) to identify projectile energy thresholds that influence mass transfer outcomes in low-energy collision events between cm-size projectiles and μm-size regolith, (2) to determine whether these mass transfer events required a microgravity environment to be observed, and (3) to determine whether the rebound portion of these collision events could be replicated in a laboratory drop tower environment. We found that (1) mass transfer events occurred for projectile rebound accelerations <7.8 m/s2 and we were unable to identify a corresponding impact velocity threshold, (2) mass transfer events require a microgravity environment, and (3) ourdrop tower experiments were able to produce mass transfer events. However, drop tower experiments do not exactly reproduce the free-particle impacts and rebound of the long-duration microgravity experiments and yielded systematically lower amounts of the overall mass transferred.
{"title":"The Adhesive Response of Regolith to Low-Energy Disturbances in Microgravity","authors":"S. Jarmak, J. Colwell, A. Dove, J. Brisset","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2021-0001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2021-0001","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Small, airless bodies are covered by a layer of regolith composed of particles ranging from μm-size dust to cm-size pebbles that evolve under conditions very different than those on Earth. Flight-based microgravity experiments investigating low-velocity collisions of cm-size projectiles into regolith have revealed that certain impact events result in a mass transfer from the target regolith onto the surface of the projectile. The key parameters that produce these events need to be characterized to understand the mechanical behavior of granular media, which is composed of the surfaces of small bodies. We carried out flight and ground-based research campaigns designed to investigate these mass transfer events. The goals of our experimental campaigns were (1) to identify projectile energy thresholds that influence mass transfer outcomes in low-energy collision events between cm-size projectiles and μm-size regolith, (2) to determine whether these mass transfer events required a microgravity environment to be observed, and (3) to determine whether the rebound portion of these collision events could be replicated in a laboratory drop tower environment. We found that (1) mass transfer events occurred for projectile rebound accelerations <7.8 m/s2 and we were unable to identify a corresponding impact velocity threshold, (2) mass transfer events require a microgravity environment, and (3) ourdrop tower experiments were able to produce mass transfer events. However, drop tower experiments do not exactly reproduce the free-particle impacts and rebound of the long-duration microgravity experiments and yielded systematically lower amounts of the overall mass transferred.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90908808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annie Meier, Deborah Essumang, M. Hummerick, C. Johnson, M. Kruger, G. Massa, K. Engeling
Abstract With benefits such as environmentally safe treatment methods to stimulate growth, to increase plant yield, and improve disinfection efficiency, literature on the field of plasma treatment of seeds is growing. Generalized variables and success criteria have not been well correlated between studies, so this review paper serves to connect plasma and agriculture technologies to coordinate future efforts in this growing area of research. The authors have particular interest due to space agriculture, where seeds are sanitized before being sent into space for crop production. In order to supply a spectrum of nutritional needs, it is necessary to provide a variety of crops and ensure biological decontamination before the seeds are being sent into space. Traditional seed sanitization methods are not viable for all seed types, so exploration of other options is needed to expand the astronaut diet on long-duration space missions. This review paper brings together the current state-of-the-art reported literature to aide in understanding plasma seed application apparatus, seed or crop performance pertaining to germination, growth, water interactions, inactivation of bacteria, and surface sanitization results. These recent works include evolving research themes for potential seed treatment sanitization processes for various seed types to ensure the viability of plants for future growth in microgravity crop production systems.
{"title":"Reviewing Plasma Seed Treatments for Advancing Agriculture Applications on Earth and Into the Final Frontier","authors":"Annie Meier, Deborah Essumang, M. Hummerick, C. Johnson, M. Kruger, G. Massa, K. Engeling","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2021-0011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2021-0011","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract With benefits such as environmentally safe treatment methods to stimulate growth, to increase plant yield, and improve disinfection efficiency, literature on the field of plasma treatment of seeds is growing. Generalized variables and success criteria have not been well correlated between studies, so this review paper serves to connect plasma and agriculture technologies to coordinate future efforts in this growing area of research. The authors have particular interest due to space agriculture, where seeds are sanitized before being sent into space for crop production. In order to supply a spectrum of nutritional needs, it is necessary to provide a variety of crops and ensure biological decontamination before the seeds are being sent into space. Traditional seed sanitization methods are not viable for all seed types, so exploration of other options is needed to expand the astronaut diet on long-duration space missions. This review paper brings together the current state-of-the-art reported literature to aide in understanding plasma seed application apparatus, seed or crop performance pertaining to germination, growth, water interactions, inactivation of bacteria, and surface sanitization results. These recent works include evolving research themes for potential seed treatment sanitization processes for various seed types to ensure the viability of plants for future growth in microgravity crop production systems.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85295803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Meier, D. Rinderknecht, Joel A. Olson, M. Shah, Jaime A. Toro Medina, R. Pitts, R. Carro, J. Gleeson, J. Hochstadt, Evan A. Bell, Emily A. Forrester, M. Kruger, Deborah Essumang
Abstract The Orbital Syngas/Commodity Augmentation Reactor (OSCAR) project investigated hardware and engineering development for waste conversion operations related to trash deconstruction and repurposing for long duration space missions. Operations of the trash-to-gas system were investigated to compare microgravity (μg) and Earth gravity environments. The OSCAR system has been demonstrated in other μg platforms, but here the performance and results on the Blue Origin New Shepard Suborbital Vehicle are discussed. The OSCAR suborbital operation demonstrated the introduction of trash into a high temperature reactor for solid to gas conversion, ignition of mixed trash feedstock, combustion during μg, and subsequent gas collection processes in a flight automated sequence. An oxygen (O2)- and steam-rich environment was created within the reactor for ignition conditions, and the product gases were quantified to verify the reaction product composition. This paper focuses on the chemistry processes of the reactor, and gas and solid product analysis of the μg and gravity conditions. The gas production, reactor thermal profile, and mass and carbon conversion results validated confidence in the system design to continue the advancement of this technology for future spaceflight implementations.
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