MICROGRAVITY APPLICATION / BIOTECHNOLOGY / SPIN-OFFS / ESA PROGRAMMES
FIRST experiences AND STATUS OF ONGOING MAP RESEARCH PROJECTS
R. A. Binot
Directorate of Manned Spaceflight
and µgravity, ESA ESTEC/MSM-GA, PO Box 299, NL-2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
The Microgravity Applications Programme (MAP) initiated some 3 years ago with
the announced objective of attracting about ten scientific projects is presently
covering a total of 44 Pilot Projects plus a number of Topical Teams preparing
for new projects. The research fields covered by these projects are ranging
from life sciences disciplines up to fundamental physics, also covering interdisciplinary
fields like bioengineering, biomedicine, and environmental bioprocesses in preparation
for manned space exploration and sustainable ground activities. After a synthetic
general review of the programme status, the presentation will focus on the interdisciplinary
research fields that have been introduced only recently in the space research
programme largely as a direct result of the MAP initiative in Biotechnology.
Scientific and industrial Partners in these activities are generally bringing
complementary expertise in the respective life, physical, and engineering sciences
making the necessary interdisciplinary character of biotechnological projects.
The Topical Teams are European-wide teams and networks involving partners from
academia and industry having as major objective the identification of high-priority
research areas, with relevance to microgravity, and the preparation of Projects.
Topical teams are also invited to involve a wider science community into discussions
of themes relevant to the influence of the g related forces via publications
and organisation of dedicated symposium. Status will be presented.
Tissue engineering in space
N. Conza1, P. Mainil-Varlet2, F. Rieser3, J.
Kraemer4, P. Bittmann3, R. Huijser4, L. van
den Bergh4 and A. Cogoli1
1) Space
Biology, ETH Zurich, 2) Institute of Pathology, University of Bern,
3) Sulzer Medica, Winterthur, 4) Fokker Space, Leiden
The fact that mammalian single cells undergo profound alterations in microgravity,
nourished hypotheses and speculations on possible commercial and medical applications.
Bioprocessing in space became one of the interesting themes of the exploitation
of the oncoming International Space Station. A few pharmaceutical companies
manifested their interest in joint application research programs with national
and international space agencies.
For this reason ESA has started a "Microgravity Application Program", MAP to
support application-oriented projects with participation of non-aerospace industries.
An example of such activity is the first MAP project that started in May 2000
and that is aimed at the development of instruments (bioreactor) and technologies
for tissue engineering. Team members from academic institutions are A. Bader,
Hannover; S. Ambesi, Udine; P. Bruckner, Münster; R. Pörtner, Hamburg;
A. Cogoli and I. Walther, Zurich; P. Bittmann is the industrial partner from
Sulzer Medica, Winterthur. The objectives of the project are: to develop procedures
of in-vitro organogenesis of pancreatic islets, thyroid tissue, liver, vessels
and cartilage; to study the mechanism of organogenesis in low-g; to define the
requirements of a modular space bioreactor for medically relevant organ-like
structures; to set up procedures for the production of implants for medical
applications. Experiments in the random positioning machine, RPM, a device to
generate conditions that simulate microgravity, will be accompanied by flights
in space in 2001-03.
The purpose of this communication is to present the status of that part of the
project related to the study of cartilage formation from pig chondrocytes. Solid
and compact specimen of cartilage were obtained after 2 or 3 weeks of culture
either at 1 g or under conditions simulating low-g in the RPM. There are clear
morphological differences between the static and RPM-samples. First, the cartilage
from the RPM is round-shaped, almost spherical, whereas that grown at 1 g reflects
the geometry of the de novo insert (Sulzer patent). Second, the histological
analysis reveals a more compact cellular structure in the RPM than in the static
1 g samples. Third, the arrangement of the cells in the cartilage appears arranged
in a more "ordered" geometry in the RPM. In fact, whereas at
1 g the cells are distributed at random in the intercellular matrix, in the
RPM the cells appear arranged in lines. Although these data are preliminary,
they indicate that the structure of the cartilage formed under simulated low-g
is somehow different from that obtained at 1 g.
Three modules (for chondrocytes, vascular tissue and thyroid cells, respectively)
have been manufactured by Fokker Space for the three biological systems under
investigation within the MAP project. The first objective of the experiment
is to test the modules in real microgravity on a sounding rocker flight (MASER
9,
Nov. 2001) as they can be considered as prototypes of a modular bioreactor for
tissue engineering to be installed on the International Space Station, ISS.
The second objective is to investigate changes of genetic expression that may
occur within 6 minutes after exposure to 0 g conditions.
Changes in the cytoskeleton of chondrocytes will be studied in four modules
after fixation at different times by injection of glutaraldehyde. In four other
modules the cells will be treated for analysis of the genetic expression. In
fact, it is known that chondrocytes react very quickly (within minutes) to changes
of the mechanical load.
Acknowledgements: The MAP activity of the Space Biology Group in Zürich
is supported by ESA, Sulzer Medica and the ETH Zurich; Verena Winkelmann for
histological processing.
New instruments for gravitational biology and biotechnology in space and
on ground
R.H. Huijser et.al.
Fokker Space B.V. - PO Box 32070 - 2303 DB Leiden - The Netherlands
The presentation will provide an overview of recent developments in the area
of ISS payload elements and associated ground reference models, sounding rocket
payloads and ground research instruments. Details will be presented on:
1.) Further development of MiMi miniature microscopes for the ESA facilities
on ISS, i.e. MiMi that will fit inside the European Modular Cultivation System
(EMCS) experiment container and a fluorescent MiMi that will be tailored for
Biolab’s Advanced Experiment Container.
2.) The Experiment Reference Models for EMCS that are designed and built under
Astrium contract for ESA and NASA ARC.
3.) The CIS-6/MSB facility system that will partake in the MASER 9 sounding
rocket campaign in November 2001, comprising the payload module, the 1xg set-up
and ground support equipment. The presentation will focus on facility lay-out
and on the experiment hardware that is designed and built for the two CIS-6
cell biology experiments (lymphocytes, thyroid cells) and for the three Modular
Space Bioreactor tissue growth experiments (chondrocytes, thyroid cell clusters,
blood vessel tissue).
4.) The new small size Random Positioning Machine (desktop RPM) that is now
commercially available. This instrument is designed for operation within a standard
laboratory incubator and to accommodate an experiment package with a volume
up to 15x15x15 cm³. Also, details on the newly developed software that accompanies
the instrument will be shown.
Apart from the objective to be informative about the above-mentioned developments,
the presentation intends to invite discussion with the ELGRA community, and
other participants in the meeting, in order to optimize the future use and application
scope of the various instruments.
Spin–Offs from the European Microgravity Research Programme
G. Seibert
ESTEC/ESA, Kepplerlaan 1, NL-2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands
The basic role of ESA is to carry out approved space programmes on a Europe-wide
basis. An important part of the task involves the development of leading-edge
technology to support those programmes.
The costs of the ESA Microgravity Programme amounts to about 3% of the total
ESA budget. It was not until late 1999 that I began to identify the spin-offs
from European microgravity research and associated experimental facility developments.
The outcome of this review revealed an extraordinary success. Fourteen instruments
or technical systems, derived from microgravity life sciences and materials/fluid
science activities, were either already on the commercial market or about to
produce large quantities of terrestrial equipment in newly set up production
lines. Several space companies have recently created spin-off companies. For
the year 2001, the commercial sales value of the spin-offs from the microgravity
programme is estimated to be in the order of 50 – 60 million Euro. In the year
2002, it is expected to be in the range of 90 – 100 million Euro, with further
increases for the following years. The annual value associated with these spin-off
developments from the microgravity programme will actually exceed the annual
public funding spent on the ESA microgravity space activities.
The large number of spin-offs developments from space life sciences, which have
found a medical application on Earth, is especially rewarding. It takes about
5 years to perform the necessary clinical tests and to obtain the related safety
certificate of the medical application. That points to an early and rapid application
of the original space technology.
It was observed that the applications were often developed by a combined initiative
of the principal investigators and those companies that were involved in the
original microgravity hardware development. The main reason for the great success
of this microgravity spin-off process is probably the fact that research activities
of microgravity life- and physical sciences are closely linked to terrestrial
research in the materials industry and in medicine. The space programme therefore
acts as a catalyser for the development of innovative instruments and technologies.
The paper reviews the technical details of most important spin-offs and discusses
their commercial relevance.
The results of this special review are not based on a comprehensive systematic
evaluation of the technical and economic aspects of all microgravity spin-offs.
They are based upon a limited sample of identified projects that are just entering
the commercial market, mainly in the medical service and research sector. There
are many developments, especially those on component level, material and processing
level, which, due to the difficulty in identifying and assessing them from an
economic point of view, have not been addressed in detail in the review. Nevertheless,
this review, which concentrated on spin-offs at the instrumental level, has
shown clearly that large sales benefits have already been achieved and the market
expectations for these in the coming years are excellent.
User Support and operations services for ISS Utilisation. BIOLAB as AN Example
of a Columbus Payload
M. Schuber et al.
DLR Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC), Linder Hoehe 23b, D-51147 Köln
For the ISS utilisation a number of User Support and Operations Centers (USOCs)
in Europe will interlink the experimenters in Materials Sciences and Life Sciences
and the respective ISS payloads by providing a broad spectrum of support services.
These services can be divided into pre-, in-flight and post-flight phase. The
introduction into these user support services provided for experimenters will
be illustrated by the example of services planned for BIOLAB as one of the Life
Sciences payloads on ISS. Main tasks are experiment and payload operations preparation,
in-flight facility/experiment monitoring and control, post-flight facility evaluation,
data distribution as well as experiment evaluation support. ESA will provide
the BIOLAB Engineering Models and Science Reference Model(s) as well as the
main communication components.
During all phases of an increment access to the utilisation of available ground
model(s) and laboratory facilities for e.g. zero-g simulation and hyper-g equipment
will be possible thus enabling an integrated operations and science support.
The BIOLAB dedicated USOCs will consist of a Facility Responsible Center (FRC)
and a Facility Support Center (FSC). Experiment-Specific Support Centers (ESCs)
from the experimenters home country may be involved for the operations preparation
and in-flight operations performance of individual BIOLAB experiments. A direct
connection from a USOC to a users` home base (UHB) may also be established.
The current status in the setup of the USOCs is the definition and implementation
of the various centers infrastructure within the network of all involved European
USOCs.
BEYOND C.E.B.A.S. – BASELINE DATA COLLECTION FOR GROUND BASED ECOTOXICOLOGICAL
RESEARCH AND SYSTEM APPLICATION TO ISS
K. Slenzka1, M. Duenne2, B. Koenig1, and M.
Schirmer2
1OHB-System
GmbH, Dept. Life Sciences / Science, 28359 Bremen, Germany, 2University
of Bremen, Institute for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Dept. Aquatic Ecology,
28334 Bremen, Germany
The C.E.B.A.S.-Minimodule (Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System) was
developed and manufactured at OHB-System under contract of German Aerospace
Center, DLR, being based on ideas and laboratory models of Bluem at the university
of Bochum, Germany.
This ground-based tested microcosm (fish, Xiphophorus helleri, plants
Ceratophyllum demersum, snails Biomphalaria glabrata and bacteria
in the filter) was successfully flown aboard two space-shuttle missions (STS-89,
STS-90) in 1998. Various topics of gravitational biology and Ecophysiology were
investigated.
Improving the system at the OHB laboratories, a first activity was to standardize
the experimental procedures to enable test runs with a system stability of at
least 4 weeks based on the biological composition used for space flight experiments.
A next step was to close the food chain a bit better in the system. The small
shrimp - Hyalella azteca - was included into the system Being well known
as a marker animal in general Ecotoxicology, it fit very well in our new goals
of application oriented research with this system. New technology had to be
implemented especially in the field of measuring sensors used. Beyond C.E.B.A.S.
the CBRU - Controlled Biological Research Unit - now enables longer, stabile
test runs with future prospective.
For ground-based ecotoxicological research the uncontrolled export of elements
and nutrients is excluded. CBRU now offers the possibility to study the environmental
impact on several trophic levels simultaneously. It now demonstrates a realistic
chance for an ongoing development as ecotoxicological research module, especially
for a prospective assessment of chemicals and other environmental factors -
a real Spin-Off of Space technology.
Moreover, these precise investigations make the system very attractive for space
flight application and research.
In detail, recent investigations were carried out characterizing the ecological
system behavior. An array of water chemical and biological parameters was gathered
in a series of 3-week-test runs. Oxygen-concentration and pH-value were recorded
continuously.
Predications about alteration of animal biomass and productivity of plants,
depending on system specific parameters (biological and water chemical) are
possible. The ability of the 8,6 l -system (which is very small) to deal with
disturbance, e.g. dead fish, was observed. Additionally the cycling of nutrients
(carbon / nitrogen) was investigated.
Beside swordtail fish, Japanese Medaka fish, cichlid fish as well as tadpoles
were tested in the system and the above characterizations were made.
During the presentation a survey of the data obtained as well as data from new
technology developed and implemented in the system will be presented.
ESA'S STUDENT MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH PROGRAMME
L. Jagger-Mézière and W. Ockels
ESTEC/ESA, Kepplerlaan 1, NL-2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Today's students will become tomorrow's workforce and hence an allocation for
students should be made within the global space programme, so that they will
be motivated to follow space careers and create a science-literate and space-educated
new generation for working within the space domain. This will lead to a continuously
regenerated workforce that will profit from injection of new ideas and initiatives.
However, getting students involved in today's space programmes is important
not only for the space industry in terms of providing a talented workforce for
the future but also for the public in general who will be the future voters
and potential political supporters of European space exploration.
For these reasons the European Space Agency (ESA) has created the Education
Office, one of the purposes of which, is to create opportunities for students
and young people to become involved in space related research on a permanent
basis.
These opportunities include the annual ESA Student Parabolic Flight Campaign
in which 30 microgravity experiments are flown per year, payloads on the Russian
unmanned capsule FOTON and finally from 2005 onwards, 13kg of the annual scientific
payload delivered to the European Columbus module on the International Space
Station (ISS), will be dedicated to student payloads.
These microgravity opportunities are offered in an inter-linking manner whereby
selective progression assures that only the very best experiments make it to
the space station.
