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General Description
It had been a NASA goal to include a large centrifuge for biological research in the station off adn on throughout the development of the project. While omitted for a time in the Alpha to ISS period, it reappeared later in the ISS planning as the primary payload of a module.
Centrifuge
Outline of the Centrifuge Project
((c):NASA)
The Centrifuge is a laboratory for conducting gravitational biology
research in the International Space Station (ISS) program. The
Centrifuge consists of the Life Sciences Glovebox (LSG), Centrifuge
Rotor (CR), and Centrifuge Accommodation Module (CAM). LSG is
to be delivered on orbit in 2004, and CR/CAM, in 2006, by a U.S.
Space Shuttle. In this project, NASDA provides the Centrifuge to
NASA as part of the offset of NASA's provision of the Shuttle launch
services for the launch of the Japanese Experimental Module (Kibo).
Project Objectives
The Centrifuge is a laboratory for studying gravitational biology. It is used to precisely and quantitatively investigate how
microgravity affects biological specimens. The goal of this development project is to test and demonstrate the operability to
handle biological specimens in a manned space environment, technology for a large rotating payload, and integration of
payloads into a module.
Outlines of LSG/CR/CAM
Life Sciences Glovebox (LSG)
The LSG provides an enclosed environment (workvolume) in which biological specimens and chemicals are isolated from
the pressurized environment of the module and crew members can manipulate those specimens through gloves. The LSG
is the largest (500-liter) biological experiment equipment used on orbit to date and can accommodate two habitats. Two
crew members can conduct science procedures at the same time, such as dissecting small animals, and seeding and
harvesting plants.
Launch Date
Sep. 2004 (Utilization Flight 3:UF-3)
Location
USLab and CAM
Mass
Less than 680kg
Volume
One ISPR rack size (Launch configuration)
Operational Period
10 years on orbit
Habitat
Max. mass:
116kg
Dimensions:
W48XH71XD61(cm)
W19XH28XD24(inch)
Max number:
2
Crew Operability
Two crew members can work at the same time.
Work Volume
Volume:
0.5m3
Temperature:
18-27 Centigrade(Precision:
Less than 1 Centigrade)
Equipment
Vacuum Cleaner
Video Monitor
Video Camera(2)
Illumination
Centrifuge Rotor (CR)
The CR is the largest (2.5m diameter) equipment for gravitational experiments. It provides a selectable, simulated gravity
environment from 0.01g up to 2.00g (0.01g increments) for biological specimens on ISS. Small animals and plants could
also be used in experiments with the CR, and significant advances for those gravitational experiments are expected.
Launch Date
Apr. 2006 (Utilization Flight 7:UF-7)
Location
CAM
Mass
Less than 1875kg
Dimension
Rotating radius 1.25m
Operational Period
10 years on orbit
Habitat
Max. mass:
87kg
Dimensions:
W19XH24.4XD24(inch)
W48XH62XD61(cm)
Max number:
8
Mission Overview
CR provides Biological specimens with a simulated
Gravitational environment by rotating habitats.
Rotor Functionality
Artificial Gravity:
0.01-2.00g(0.01g
increments)
Spin-up Acceleration:
5min.-1hour
Centrifuge Accommodation Module (CAM)
The CAM is a pressurized module specifically used for life science research. It is equipped with the LSG, CR, habitat
holding racks, a freezer rack, and stowage racks.
Launch Date
Apr. 2006 (Utilization Flight 7:UF-7)
Mass
10 tons
Scale
Outer Radius:4.4m, Length: 8.98m
Electric Power
6.25kw x 2 strings, 120Vdc
Operational Period
10 years on orbit
Number of racks
14 racks (excluding CR)
System racks
System components Installed on the module wall
Stowage racks
10 racks
Other racks
Habitat Holding Rack(2), Freezer rack(1),LSG
rack(1), CR(4-rack volume)
Outline of Biological Missions
The Centrifuge's main mission is to quantitatively
investigate how gravity affects hematology, immunology, neuroscience, plant physiology, radiobiology, etc. Some of the
experiments on gravitational biology currently planned are;
Evaluation of the kinematics of plant orientation in microgravity and response to artificial gravity
Effect of microgravity on skeletal growth, maturity, and calcium metabolism
Examination of the effect of microgravity on blood and bone marrow colony forming cells
Muscle loss in rats in microgravity
Role of gravity in lignification and silicification
Role of gravity in secondary metabolite production
Highlights of LSG/CR/CAM development
The LSG development explores techniques for isolating biological specimens from the crew, biological compatibility, and crew
operability in a pressurized module. Several functions are to be provided, such as providing electrical power and air for
biospecimens, to accumulate and transfer data signals and video signals both for crew members on orbit and researchers on
Earth to monitor the status of the specimens.
The CR development involves the challenge of "Slip Ring Technology" that bridges the rotating portion and the static portion of
the CR. It supplies air, liquid and power to the rotating portion of the CR and receives video signals from the rotating portion to
the static portion. It also involves "Active Balancing Technology," to maintain stable rotation even with the jittering habitats with
active specimens. It also involves "Precision Vibration Isolation Technology" to prevent the CR rotation from disturbing the
overall ISS micro-gravity environment. With all those state-of-the-art technologies, the CR still manages to control the
centrifugal acceleration with a 0.01g resolution.
The CAM development integrates the large-scale biological experiment equipment with hardware commonly used in ISS, by
utilizing and enhancing the integration technology derived from the Kibo development.
Last Updated : Aug. 28, 2000
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