Space Life Sciences - Guest Lecture

ASEN 5519: Space Experiment Hardware Design

Dr. Alex Hoehn, (303) 492-5875, ECAE 1B06, Hoehn@spot.colorado.edu

Objectives

· Understand science requirements, define design drivers / engineering requirements,

· Test / verify / document functionality, safety and interfaces, and operational aspects of space life science payloads.

Experiment / Hardware / Instrument Design

Science Requirements

Independent variables, Dependent variables, Statistical methods,

Ground Controls, On-orbit 1-g centrifuge, etc.

Microgravity simulation, spaceflight simulation for ground control (vibration, acceleration)

Spaceflight Constraints

Rules, regulations, laws, industry standard, NASA Standards, Acronyms,

Experiment Constraints

Materials compatibility (plastic, ColeParmer), shelf life, biocompatibility…

Design Options / Research

Transfer of Earth-laboratory ideas, modify existing hardware, brainstorm…

Design Phases

Concepts, Preliminary Design / review (PDR), detailed design / review (CDR), manufacturing (no changes – expensive), testing, science evaluation, operations

Spaceflight Design vs. ‘Earth’ Design

Same process, unique constraints, but safety, environment… have to be considered in any design (consumer products…)

One difference: can’t test well on Earth, and $$$$ / few opportunities.

Space Environment with Impacts on Experiment Design

Microgravity

Fluid handling / phase separation, fluid transfer (fill / vent), containment, separation, heat transfer / convection

Launch / Landing – Access to Space

Acceleration, vibration, acoustic loads, re-entry loads, shipping

NSTS Space Shuttle – Middeck, SPACEHAB, Get Away Special (GAS) Cans / Hitchhiker

On-orbit disturbances

Gravity-gradient, vibration / g-jitter / isolation,

exercise / crew handling

Sealed Orbital Habitats / Spacecraft Environments / Atmosphere Properties

Vacuum: Containment, pressure loads, heat transfer,

Toxicology: Offgassing / volatiles, flammability,

De- / re-pressurization, vented containers

Temperature, Pressure, Humidity / Dew Point, Atmosphere Composition / Partial Pressures, Contamination

Materials Compatibility (containment), biocompatibility

Thermal

Temperature gradients, convection, water/air cooling

Radiation

Materials degradation, electronics malfunction, ionizing radiation

Government Furnished Equipment

Cold Stowage, Glove Box, Photo-equipment

Transportation facilities

Documentation

Payload Integration Plan (PIP), Interface Definition Document (IDD - generic), Interface Control Documents (ICD - specific)

Interface Definition Documents

Shuttle Documentation, specifically middeck IDD NSTS 21000-IDD-MDK at:

http://shuttlepayloads.jsc.nasa.gov/data/PayloadDocs/PayloadDocs.htm

Spacehab User Handbook and Spacehab IDD at:

http://www.realmshab.com/sub-pages/realms/handbook.htm

EXPRESS IDD and Space Station Documents:

(http://iss-www.jsc.nasa.gov/ss/issapt/payofc/documents/ozdocs.html)

International Space Station (ISS) – EXPRESS rack (EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to Space Station), Human Research Facility (HRF) rack

ISS Mission Integrations and Operations at:

http://iss-www.jsc.nasa.gov/ss/issapt/ouipt/ouipt_home.html

ISS Internal Program Team http://iss-www.jsc.nasa.gov/ss/issapt/

Astronaut Training and Flight Operations

· Familiarization Briefing

· Hands-on Crew Training

· Joint Integrated Simulations (JIS)

· Operational Aids for Microgravity (Velcro, attachments, restraints...)

· Payload Operations Control (POC) - MSFC

Safety / Reliability Safety and Hazard Classification

Fail safe, multiple controls / redundancy, factors of safety / margin of safety, catastrophic

Hazard levels

Payload Safety Review Panel (PSRP) at NASA JSC (for all experiments / entire NASA)

The “Bible”: NSTS13830 Payload Safety Review and Data Submittal Requirements

Hazard Reports: Standard Hazard Report form 1230, Unique Hazard report form 542B

Safety Review

Phase 0/I, Phase II, Phase III, Phase III delta, Reflight Verification Matrix

Hazard Reports, Safety Verification

Hazard Reports: Critical or Catastrophic (injury, death, loss of orbiter)

Hazard Description

Hazard Cause

Hazard Control

Safety Verification

Generic Hazards

Structure: launch/landing, sealed/vented container, sharp edges,

Materials: shatterable materials (glass), flammables, offgassing, radiation (ionizing, lasers)

Battery, Touch Temperature, Electric Power, Rotating Equipment, Mercury from bulbs,

Some Space Life Sciences Experiment Examples (recent ISS flights)

Avian Development Facility (ADF) by SHOT Inc.

Advanced Astroculture by WCSAR

Protein Crystallization

Commercial Generic BioProcessing Apparatus (CGBA) by BioServe

Commercial Biomedical Test Module (CBTM)

Plant Generic BioProcessing Apparatus (PGBA) by BioServe

Spaceflight Subsystem Technologies (Plant Chamber) by Orbitec

Cell Culture Unit (CCU) by Payload Systems Inc. (PSI)

Astrobiology links to available hardware (links)

Microgarvity Facilities: MSFC, Space Product Development (SPD)

Support Facilities:

ARCTIC and Oceaneering/SpaceHab Refrigerator -Freezer (OSRF) Freezer by Oceaneering