2007
Space milestones
BIOBOX and BIOPAN return together on Foton-M3
Foton-M3 hosts around forty European experiments and returns the BIOBOX and BIOPAN platforms to orbit. For Kayser, it is a particularly intensive campaign: two twin BIOBOX-6 incubators and a new BIOPAN configuration fly aboard, dedicated respectively to biological experimentation in a controlled environment and direct exposure of samples to space.
Esperia takes Kayser with Paolo Nespoli
During the STS-120 / Esperia mission, Paolo Nespoli performs Italian experiments using Kayser hardware. Among these, HPA studies hand strength and motor control, while SPORE observes the survival of bacterial spores. The mission strengthens the link between technology developed in Livorno and the Italian presence aboard the ISS.
Tardigrades defy space
Aboard Foton-M3, experiments on tardigrades show these tiny animals’ ability to survive direct exposure to the space environment. The results contribute to the study of organisms’ resistance to extreme conditions.
China launches Chang’e 1
China’s first lunar probe is launched to produce a three-dimensional map of the Moon. The mission inaugurates the Chang’e lunar exploration programme.
Missions & Payloads
STS-120 ESPERIA
Space Shuttle Discovery mission to the ISS. It takes the Harmony module (Node 2) into orbit and includes repositioning the P6 truss section. Esperia, the mission of Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli, takes place as part of the flight.
OCLAST
Experiment dedicated to studying osteoclasts, the cells responsible for bone resorption, to determine whether microgravity increases their activity. During Foton-M3, osteoclasts are cultured on bovine bone sections for four days. The results show increased expression of genes involved in osteoclast maturation and greater bone resorption than in the control samples. Kayser Italia develops and produces the bioreactors. The system comprises culture chambers, pistons and springs that keep the cells in contact with the bone discs and enable automatic replacement of the culture medium.
BIOPAN 6
Platform for directly exposing ten astrobiology, radiobiology and dosimetry experiments to the space environment: UV-OLUTION, LITHOPANSPERMIA, HIGHRAD, MARSTOX II, ROTARAD, LIFE MARKER CHIP, RADO, R3D-B3, TARDIS and YEAST. It remains open for around ten days during the Foton-M3 mission. Results include those from TARDIS: some tardigrades survive the vacuum of space and, to some extent, combined exposure to vacuum and solar radiation. Kayser Italia is responsible for the platform’s electronics and flight software.
FOTON M3
Mission with an automatic orbital capsule dedicated to experimentation in microgravity. It hosts numerous European experiments in biology, fluid physics, materials science and exobiology.
SPORE
Educational experiment devised by Italian students to study the survival of Bacillus subtilis PY17 spores exposed to microgravity and ionising radiation on the ISS. Paolo Nespoli performs the experiment during STS-120 / Esperia, launched on 23 October 2007. After return, the spores contained in the 96 cuvettes are compared with control samples that remained on Earth. Together with HPA, it is one of two experiments created by Kayser Italia for ASI as part of Esperia.
HPA
Facility developed by Kayser Italia for ASI and used on the ISS since 2003 to study upper-limb strength, coordination and motor control. The name derives from Hand Posture Analyzer. During Esperia, Paolo Nespoli performs three protocols: IMAGINE, on the mental representation of the effects of gravity; MAIS, on grasping movements; and CHIRO, on the force exerted with the hand and fingers.
STS-118
Space Shuttle Endeavour mission dedicated to ISS assembly. It transported the S5 truss section, the SPACEHAB module and an external stowage platform.
ELITE
System for three-dimensional analysis of astronauts’ posture, movements and motor adaptation in microgravity. The ELITE-S2 configuration is developed by Kayser Italia as an ASI contractor. The company also builds the ground segment and operations centre that allows the facility to be controlled from its Livorno premises.
SOYUZ 15S
Crewed mission to the International Space Station. It transports Peggy Whitson, Expedition 16 commander, Yuri Malenchenko and spaceflight participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.
ASI LIFE
Programme of Italian experiments dedicated to studying muscles, cells and physiology in microgravity. Kayser handles the design and construction of the experimental hardware, integration into the satellite, logistics and recovery support, also contributing to mission command and control activities.
PHOTO2
Experiment dedicated to in-flight monitoring of the photosynthetic efficiency of Chlamydomonas strains exposed to the space environment. It is developed by the Centre for Advanced Research in Space Optics, in collaboration with Kayser Italia, Biosensor and DAS.
eOSTEO/eEristo
Automatic facility dedicated to studying bone cell biology and osteoporosis in microgravity. Two units are used on Foton-M3, hosting six experiments in total. The research concerns bone formation and resorption, cellular architecture and the potential protective effects of hormones, drugs and growth factors, with the aim of identifying countermeasures to bone loss in microgravity.
BIOBOX 6
Completely renewed version of ESA’s BIOBOX facility, consisting of two programmable incubators controlled by a single electronic unit. It hosts five experiments: OBADIS, OSTEOGENE and OCLAST on bone cells; RADCELL on the effects of radiation on connective tissue; and CONNECT on gene expression in connective tissue cells in microgravity. Kayser participates in the programme, continuing its contribution to the electronics of the BIOBOX family.
BIO-3
Experimental programme dedicated to studying gene expression, cell signalling and the response to gravity in plants and cells. Kayser builds 32 biological microlaboratories for ESA for the mission.