Light Microscopy Module (LMM)

by on 12 May 2015in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences

Specifications

  • Light Microscopy Module (LMM) is housed within and used in conjunction with the glovebox in the Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR)
  • Remotely controlled, automated microscope
  • For Physical and Biological experiments

Microscope

  • Modified commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Leica RXA microscope
  • Objectives: 2.5x,10x, 20x, 40x, 50x, 63x, 63x oil, and 100x oil
  • New or different objectives may also be flown as needed

Imaging

  • Confocal imaging
  • Digital black and white low noise scientific camera
  • High resolution black and white microscopy, bright field, epifluorescencent (EPI), and fluorescent techniques

NanoRacks LLC

by on 1 May 2015in Earth Science and Remote Sensing, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Technology Development

NanoRacks, LLC was formed in 2009 to provide quality hardware and services for the U.S. National Laboratory onboard the International Space Station. The company operates the first commercial laboratory in low-earth orbit. Today, NanoRacks has three research platforms onboard, which can house plug and play NanoLabs using the CubeSat form factor for inside the Space Station. Additionally, the NanoRacks External Platform, manufactured by Airbus DS, has recently launched to the ISS with first customers expected to use the platform in early 2016. To date, NanoRacks has launched over 350 customer payloads to the International Space Station, including domestic and international educational institutions, research organizations and government organizations. This has propelled NanoRacks into a leadership position in customer utilization in low-earth orbit and beyond.

NanoRacks’ low-cost model puts microgravity research projects within the budgetary realm of hundreds of universities, smaller organizations, and first-time commercial space research users.  Our U.S. National Lab facilities provide turnkey opportunities for your microgravity research. This currently includes:

  • Three NanoLab Platforms
  • NanoRacks Plate Reader
  • NanoRacks Microscope-3
  • BioRack-Centrifuge
  • NanoRacks MixStix.

Full Spectrum of Capabilities for Small Payloads:

NanoRacks provides everything you need to conduct repeatable microgravity research on the Space Station and soon, beyond.

  • 20 years of space program experience
  • Partnerships with payload integration organizations
  • Full service NASA safety system

Extensive Interaction/Experience with:

  • NASA Payloads Office
  • NASA Safety
  • NASA MOD
  • Interface Control
  • Document Generation
  • Full Service Verification Capabilities
  • Experts at minimizing verification waste

Techshot

by on 1 May 2015in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Technology Development

For more than 25 years, Techshot has been developing professional-grade space research equipment.

Analytical Containment Transfer Tool (ACT2)

Great for:

  • Safe doubly-contained sample transfers to orbit, from orbit, and between equipment in space
    • Freezable down to -80°C
    • Standard Luer connector

Advanced Space Experiment Processor (ADSEP)

Great for:

  • Cell culturing—includes the only space-based rotating wall bioreactor available
  • C. elegans research
  • Protein crystal growth
  • Your research with ~ 2,300 cc of volume, an empty cassette could be your blank canvas for whatever’s important to you. Multiple cassettes can be processed per mission.

Bone Densitometer – the Only DXA Scanner in Space

Great for:

  • Rodent research up to 30 grams
  • Fish and other animals

Multi-use Variable-gravity Platform (MVP) – Dual Centrifuges Simultaneously Providing 0-2g Each

Great for:

  • Cell culturing (adherent and suspended)
  • Drosophila
  • Plants
  • Fish
  • Custom Solutions

If you don’t see what you need here, let’s talk. Many more technologies for research in space are in various stages of development by Techshot.

Services

  • Turnkey professional spaceflight equipment development
  • Spaceflight integration services (your hardware or ours, we’ll get it up there)
  • On orbit experiment monitoring and management via our payload operations control center
  • Total mission management, we take care of everything for you

ZIN Technologies

by on 1 May 2015in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Technology Development

ZIN Technologies is a dynamic and experienced AS9100 registered business located in Northeast Ohio. We have designed, built and operated over 240 ISS payloads in the last decade and our goal is to provide sustaining ISS research platforms and investigations by leveraging developed hardware from NASA Physical and Life Science programs. We provide systems design, development, engineering and integration, test and evaluation, advanced aerospace systems modeling and simulation and support the full life cycle development of hardware and software. Our capabilities include:

Pre-Flight:

  • Access to a large repository of previous space experiments
  • Collaboration with experienced payload developers and other subject matter experts to ensure successful experiment operations
  • Utilization of unique capabilities and facilities for developing payloads
  • Coordination with NASA and launch vehicle providers for transparent interaction with investigators

In-Flight:

  • Support of “real time” on orbit payload operations-TeleScience Support Center
  • Interfacing with ISS crew during experiment interaction
  • Facilitation of data and software interfaces
  • Contingency planning for mission changes to preserve science objectives

Post-Flight:

  • Post-flight data requirements are submitted to the principal investigator in a timely fashion
  • Post Flight Testing and Data Analysis
  • Logistics support for sample and hardware return from ISS

Primary Services:

  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Hardware design, manufacture and certification
  • Hardware analytical and physical integration
  • Full lifecycle software, integration & testing
  • On-orbit operations

KBRwyle

by on 1 May 2015in Life Sciences, Technology Development

KBRwyle has more than 50 years of Human Space Flight experience and is a recognized leader in the field of biological and human research in microgravity. KBRwyle has a strong legacy as a pathfinder in tailoring and streamlining spaceflight processes.  Our commercial approach for hardware and integration services and our ISO-9001/AS9100 and CMMI-DEV Level 3 certified processes ensure the highest quality performance at the lowest feasible cost for ISS research. KBRwyle’s proven track record of delivering solutions for operations, research, engineering, and technology development makes us an ideal partner for organizations seeking to capitalize their products using the ISS National Lab as a research platform.

Design, Development and Testing:

  • Feasibility assessments, Interface Control Documents, Design and Certify to Requirements (ISS Common IRD, Payloads, Commercial), Tailoring Requirements, Design Reviews,  Drawings,  Configuration Management
  • Traffic Model Development for Planned Investigations
  • Hardware Prototyping: Electronic, Machine, and Soft-goods Fabrication
  • Modification/Certification of Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) hardware for use on ISS
  • In-House Flight Assembly and Test Facility including Space Environment Test Chambers
  • Flight Qualification and Acceptance Testing of hardware and software
  • CoFR documentation
  • Safety Certification, including verification of ISS and International Partner safety requirement

Operations:

  • Payload integration
  • Pre-launch/operations/return of experiments involving Biological/hazardous samples and waste
  • Launch/Return/Disposal certification for Dragon, Cygnus, Soyuz, Progress, ATV and HTV
  • Ground support for activation, check-out and on-orbit operations, including real- time and logged telemetry monitoring
  • Operations Simulation Facility for Medical and Console Operations development, validation, and training
  • Flight Procedure Development and Validation
  • Sustaining and Resupply, including manifest support
  • Flight Hardware Logistics
  • Data analysis and reports

Project Management: 

  • Life Cycle cost estimates, Project Review Support, Financial Tracking and Reporting, Project Scheduling, tracking and maintenance,
  • Risk Management,
  • Proposal Management

ISS Hardware:

  • Physiologic Monitoring: Heart Rate Monitor, Blood Pressure monitor with Electrocardiogram, Optical Coherence Tomography
  • Environmental Monitors: ISS Portable Oxygen Monitor, Carbon Dioxide Monitor, Total Organic Carbon Analyzer , Radiation monitoring hardware
  • Sample collection: Saliva and urine collection kits, air, surface, and water sampling hardware
  • ISS Exercise (Human Countermeasures) Equipment
  • Ambulatory Data Acquisition System (ADAS)

Research:

  • Human Systems: Cardiovascular, Neuroscience, Bone and Mineral, Radiation Biophysics, Nutritional Biochemistry, Immunology and Biochemical Analysis
  • Environmental: Food Systems, Air and Water Quality, Toxicology
  • Non-Human Life Sciences: Plant, Cell, Rodents, Insects, Microbiology
  • GeneLab sample analysis and omics database repository
  • Air Revitalization, Water Recovery, and Waste Management Engineering Research

UAB Engineering

by on 1 May 2015in Life Sciences

As one of the leading developers and flight system integrators for Biotechnology hardware for use in microgravity and space exploration, The UAB team is an experienced provider of Protein Crystal Growth hardware and integration services having taken multiple flight systems through the approval process. This includes design, analysis, fabrication, assembly, verification and validation, environmental testing, Safety and Toxicology Review, vehicle integration, on-orbit support, and landing recovery. UAB Engineering team can provide turnkey service, including pre and post flight science support, to investigators who wish to fly samples aboard the ISS using UAB provided facilities. UAB Engineering is also the developer and Integrator for MERLIN, Glacier and Polar Cold Stowage facilities as well as several flight proven Protein Crystal Growth experiment systems. Since its inception, the engineering group has performed more than 72 different experiments and has supported over 120 different systems on the Space Shuttle, MIR-Space Station and International Space Station.

Flight Hardware Systems (Approved):

  • Hand held High Density Protein Crystal Growth (HDPCG): Small 30-90 vapor diffusion crystal growth device compatible with ISS Cold Stowage facilities.
  • Protein Crystallization Facility (PCF): 35-1 ml sample bottles for large volume temperature driven crystal growth. Compatible with ISS Cold Stowage facilities.
  • Sample Transport Container (STC): Accommodates approximately 1400 individual liquid/liquid protein crystal growth experiment tubes.

Flight Hardware Systems (Coming Soon):

  • Mini Liquid Tray: 10 cryo-vial insulated tray. Similar design to CPCG-HM Liquid tray. Each cryo-vial can hold up to 14 capillaries. 140 capillaries per assembly.
  • Blazer Crystallization Tray: For use with COTs 96 well plates. Provides sealing plate so vapor diffusion can be inhibited until assembly reaches orbit.

Labs, Shops, and Test Facilities:

  • 100k class clean room
  • Assembly / Test lab
  • Prototyping Lab
  • Ground Control Engineering Lab
  • Metrology capabilities
  • In-house machine shop

Services:

  • AS9100 Quality Management System
  • Remote Operations Control Center to support payloads on ISS
  • Launch/landing site support
  • Crew training
  • Payload integration
  • Safety and verification documentation/closeout
  • Electrical, mechanical and software design and analysis
  • Fabrication, assembly, test, and operations
  • Real Time Mission operations
  • Pre-launch and payload recovery support
  • NDAs in place to with both COTs vehicle teams for streamlined integration to and from the ISS
  • One of the first Implementation Partners selected under CASIS’s ISS National Lab Program

Thales Alenia Space (TAS) | ALTEC

by on 1 May 2015in Life Sciences, Technology Development

TAS, European leader for satellite systems and at the forefront of orbital infrastructures, contributed to the development of the International Space Station (ISS), for about 50% of its entire pressurized volume, with the Columbus laboratory and experimental facilities, Nodes 2 and 3, Cupola, PMM and logistics modules MPLM and ATV. TAS has a contract with Orbital ATK for the supply of Cygnus Pressurized Cargo Modules. For ISS Utilization TAS benefits of ALTEC Space Life Science oriented expertise and facilities.

ALTEC, controlled by TAS and participated by ASI—Italian Space Agency, helps to bring science to ISS by supporting astronauts training, engineering and logistics, Space Life Science experiments, neutral buoyancy microgravity simulation, ground control, science data processing and more. ALTEC payload development capability benefits of TAS ISS-oriented design and manufacturing experience.

TAS/ALTEC operates in the US via the US based company THALES USA.

Primary Services:

  • Contractual/Technical coordination
  • Engineering Support
  • Operations
  • Logistics
  • Crew Training
  • User Support
  • Design, Development, Manufacturing, Integration and Testing of Payload Facilities and Experiments

ISS-certified Hardware:

  • Fluid Science Lab (FSL) and European Drawer Rack (EDR) facilities in the Columbus module.
  • MDS (Mice Drawer System): Space multi-cage accommodates 6 mice.
  • Complete set of Experimental Facilities, Assemblies, Components, and Cargo Transportation Elements qualified for ISS.

Research Support Services:

  • Interface with NASA ISS Payloads Office
  • Preparation of all the required documentation
  • Support bench reviews and crew training
  • Design, Development, Manufacturing, Assembly and Verification of flight-certified hardware to support research objectives
  • Support the entire end-to-end process, from the development of initial concepts to the operations of the experiments on board and recovery from landing systems
  • Training of the astronauts (ALTEC crew trainers are certified by NASA and ESA)
  • Feasibility assessment of possible accommodation of onboard experiments
  • Implementation and certification of payloads
  • Ground development and qualification testing
  • Definition and implementation of training for ground and flight procedures
  • Payload operations on the ISS
  • Archiving and dissemination of data

Labs, Shops, Test Facilities, & POC’s:

  • Neutral buoyancy Test Facility (ALTEC NBTF) to simulate micro-g and support gravitational physiology studies
  • Development and testing of breadboards in laboratory environment
  • Real time Operations Support from ALTEC Mission Control Room
  • Integration and Testing of space systems in Clean Rooms (ISO8 and ISO5)

Teledyne Brown Engineering

by on 1 May 2015in Earth Science and Remote Sensing, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Technology Development

Teledyne Brown Engineering (TBE) offers unsurpassed expertise in the entire payload operations and integration process. The company has proudly supported NASA’s efforts for over 30 years in areas ranging from payload concept development through hardware fabrication, physical and analytical integration and software development. TBE has also provided well over 100,000 continuous hours of real-time science operations support to the International Space Station community since NASA’s Payload Operations Integration Center became operational in February 2001.

Remote Sensing

Teledyne is developing the Multi-User System for Earth Sensing (MUSES), an earth-observing, precision pointing platform for deployment and full operations onto the ISS. Launching January 17, MUSES will host up to four instruments simultaneously and offer the ability to change, upgrade and robotically service those instruments. Teledyne’s TeleScience Support Center (TSC) will provide instructions for platform pointing, instrument operations, and data downlink, as well as data processing and archiving.

Primary Services:

  • Analytical and Physical Payload integrator
  • Hardware Designer, Developer and Manufacturer
  • Real-time Science Operations Support
  • Teledyne Owned TeleScience Support Center

ISS-certified Hardware:

  • Multi-User System for Earth Sensing (MUSES)

Research Support Services:

  • Requirements Definition
  • Mission Planning and Integration
  • Safety and Requirements Verification
  • Command and Data Handling
  • Payload Integration and Interface Testing
  • Crew and Ground System Personnel Training
  • Flight Operations Products and Certification of Flight Readiness (CoFR)
  • Flight Operations Control and Execution
  • Teledyne TeleScience Center

Labs, Shops & Test Facilities:

Our Huntsville fabrication and assembly facilities covers over 550,000 square feet to provide a wide array of capabilities for hardware manufacturing and testing. Our facilities include a fully equipped machine shop, electrical/electronic assembly area, sheet metal and welding shops, laser cutters, a paint booth, NDE inspection equipment, clean rooms and controlled storage.

Micro Aerospace Solutions

by on 1 May 2015in Life Sciences, Technology Development

Micro Aerospace Solutions (MAS) offers primary services as a payload developer, software developer, and electronics system developer. We have experience developing and integrating International Space Station payload software and hardware systems, including testing and verification.

Services for Life Sciences Investigations:

  • Our Life Sciences expertise includes support systems for plant and cell experiments including incubator control development, environmental control, developing set points, configuring temperature, water and atmosphere control. We also integrated these systems into flight hardware, provided monitoring and control capabilities, and processed resulting data.
  • MAS also develops ground control system GUIs that interface with the TReK workstation software to allow a payload to communicate to and from the ground for both commanding and telemetry.
  • We have multiple software projects governed by NASA NPR 7150.2A NASA Software Engineering Requirements, and can maintain compliance with CMMI Level 2.
  • We design and test electronics for payloads, including circuit board design and integration.
  • We have facilities at Kennedy Space Center for the development and test of payload hardware and software including cleanroom and access to EMI, vibration and other test capabilities.
  • Successful flight history: Shuttle and International Space Station EXPRESSRack experiments involving science experiment control, EXPRESSRack communication, PDL and HOSC interfaces, astronaut gUI interfaces and ground control system software.

Services for Technology Development Projects:

  • MAS has a strong history in lifecycle development of innovative product design. We assist projects in graduating ideas to flown hardware. Previous projects include testing new propellant and catalysts, working with the Office of the Chief Technologist to develop software and integrate avionics for the largest solar sail planning to fly, and miniature inertial measurement units for small satellites.
  • MAS also develops ground control system GUIs that interface with the TReK workstation software to allow a payload to communicate to and from the ground for both commanding and telemetry for International Space Station Payloads.
  • We have multiple software projects governed by NASA NPR 7150.2A NASA Software Engineering Requirements, and can maintain compliance with CMMI Level 2.
  • We design and test electronics for payloads, including circuit board design and integration.
  • We have facilities at Kennedy Space Center for the development and test of payload hardware and software including cleanroom and access to EMI, vibration and other test capabilities.
  • Successful flight history: Shuttle and International Space Station EXPRESSRack experiments involving science experiment control, EXPRESSRack communication, astronaut gUI interfaces and ground control system software.

CSS-Dynamac

by on 30 April 2015in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences

CSS-Dynamac is a professional and technical services provider for government and commercial customers, a 45-year old company that, from inception has utilized science as the foundation for its customer service solutions. Earth, Space and Life Sciences are among our core competencies and we have provided support to Research and Development programs on the ground and in space since NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. CSS-Dynamac has been instrumental in over 170 scientific payloads flown to the ISS aboard the Space Shuttle, Dragon and Cygnus; providing experiment design, payload testing, hardware development, payload processing and science support throughout the continuum of the R&D cycle.

Commercial Research Support Services

  • Logistics, Shipping/Receiving, Chain of Custody, Bonded Storage, Turnover Support
  • Central Services, Consumable Supply, Scalable Laboratory Configurations
  • Permitting, Environmental Health & Safety Compliance
  • Hardware Development and Testing
  • Quality Assurance
  • Payload Processing and Integration
  • Manifest and Flight Documentation Support
  • Ground and Analog Experiment Controls, Real-time Access to Flight Experiment Data and Crew Communication

Among our most valued service element, CSS-Dynamac facilitates communication and project development understanding between our research customer and the flight organizations that manage access and requirements for use of the ISS including NASA’s ISS, HRP and Space Life and Physical Sciences Programs, as well as CASIS and ISS International Partner Agencies. As our customer, we provide the necessary resources to enable a clear pathway to ISS National Laboratory utilization for R&D.