Space Aquariums ASEN5519 Space Hardware Design Fall 2003 Helen Carson (CATECS)
Problem Statement How and why are aquariums designed for use in space? What are some past and present aquatic habitat designs? What problems are encountered with aquatic experiments?
Rationale Why study marine life in space? Previous research has included: Calcium processes in shellfish Space motion sickness in fish Effect of microgravity on aquatic embryo development Ocean ecosystem studies Reproduction in space
Background Aquatic experiments have successfully flown on MIR, Shuttle and ISS Technology has developed from simple single species experiments to self-sustainable ecological systems Some experiments rely on several generations of marine species to survive in space
Proven Technology Examples of past and present aquatic habitats include: Simple bag experiments, eg Jellyfish Kit NASDA Aquatic Animal Experiment Unit (AAEU) CSA Aquatic Research Facility (ARF) German Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (CEBAS) NASA Autonomous Biological System (ABS)
Proven Technology - Jellyfish Kit Early aquatic experiment flown in 1991 (STS-40) Two outer bags for containment Syringe system for adding nutrient and fixative
Proven Technology - AAEU Flown on STS-65 in 1994 Separate goldfish and newt habitats Life support system supplies O 2, removes CO 2 and regulates temperature Filtration system cleans waste products from water Video camera used daily by crew to record behaivor of fish and newts
Proven Technology - ARF Flown on STS-77 in 1996-10 day mission Complex equipment: contained centrifuge and ability to inject chemical markers into experiments Syringes specially designed for safe use by crew Provides a complete life support system for several individual mini-aquariums housing small animals flight syringes
Proven Technology - CEBAS Flown on STS-89 and STS-90 in 1998, STS-107 in 2003 "State of the Art" fresh water habitat for aquatic animals and plants First flight of a closed life support system
Proven Technology - ABS "State of the Art" - developed by Paragon & BioServe for NASA Completely bioregenerative closed life support system: Passive control of nutrients and O 2 /CO 2 production/absorption using ecosystem of aquatic plants, animals, microorganisms Successfully flown on Shuttle, Mir and ISS for total of 9 months
Proven Technology - ABS Hardware Design: Aquarium completely sealed, self-contained Thermal control, lighting and video camera provided by middeck locker module Designed to survive intervals without power video camera designed for autonomous recording GBA-IMC fluorescent tube 7W at 5000K two 900mL aquariums, each contained in two concentric Lexan cylinders plus third containment layer of heat sealed Aclar
Proven Technology - ABS Hardware Design: Materials (gas, nutrients) mix via diffusion Data acquisition via sensors and digital camera Heat strips for temperature control Clear containment material and water clarity important for video/data capture 100mL air 'headspace' maintained at < 250ppm CO 2 and > 22% O 2 by ecosystem No crew intervention required
Proven Technology - ABS Other considerations: All species selected must be hardy to ph, O 2 concentration and temperature variations Total system nutrients are limited so species can survive large nutrient releases (eg. deaths) "Refuge" areas required to protect infant species from being eaten Relies on survival of several generations
Key Problems Data acquisition - reliable high quality video capture of aquatic habitats: can encounter CCD camera pixel damage due to long durations in space environment require high resolution to adequately capture behavior of small animals Control experiments - complex ecosystems are difficult to reproduce on the ground as a control Selection of plants and animals to create a stable balanced ecosystem for bioregenerative habitats
Take Home Lessons Space aquariums are proven technology Several generations of marine species have successfully survived in space Aquariums can use ecological/biological processes for nutrients, O 2 production, etc, instead of relying on auxillary hardware systems Marine experiments require thermal control, lighting, and data/video capture equipment Can be automated to require no or minimal crew interaction using current technology
References ABS: www.paragonsdc.com/1b1eabsspecs.htm MacCallum, Anderson, Pynoter: "The ABS (Autonomous Biological System): Spaceflight Results from a Bioregenerative Closed Life Support System", ICES Paper, 2000 MacCallum, Anderson, Pynoter: "The Development and Testing of Visualization and Passively Controlled Life Support Systems for Experimental Organisms During Spaceflight", ICES Paper, 2001 (http://www.paragonsdc.com/1a2anew01ices-252.pdf) AAEU: http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-65/sts-65-press-kit.txt http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/cf/detail_result.cfm?image_id=157 AFR: http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/csa_sectors/space_science/life_sciences/arf.asp http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/csa_sectors/space_science/life_sciences/pictures.asp Jellyfish Kit: http://lifesci.arc.nasa.gov:591/lsle/fmpro?-db=lsle.fp3&-lay=main&-format= toc.html&-op=eq&public=y&-max=all&-find CEBAS: http://www.fuchs-gruppe.com/ohb-system/spacetech/lifescience/cebas.html http://lifesci.arc.nasa.gov/lis2/chapter5_post_1995_payloads/shuttle_post95/ CEBAS_Profile.html NASA Life Sciences Hardware database: http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/