• To utilize the opportunity to participate in the Russian Bion-M1 mission to determine the effects of long duration spaceflight on rodents, specifically on the immune system and other major organs systems
• To continue a 30 year history of US/Russian collaboration in space biology and biomedicine and provide additional spaceflight opportunities to the US space life sciences community

Bion M-1 Quad Chart

Russian Ops Consideration (RevB)

• The purpose of this research is to understand the mechanisms of gravitropism and phototropism in Arabidopsis thaliana.

EMCS-TROPI (European Modular Cultivation System -Gravitropism) Quad Chart

• Characterize the effects that the space flight environment has on the fly immune system cellular and molecular biology, and functional ability to combat bacterial or fungal infection.
• Determine if the space flight environment alters the microbial pathogenesis of an insect fungal pathogen.
• Ground experiments to assess proton radiation effects on whole organism physiology, including immunity.

FIT (Fungal Pathogenesis, Tumerogenesis, and Effects on Host Immunity in Space) Quad Chart

• Take maximum advantage of a unique research opportunity on the Russian Foton-M3 spaceflight
• Maintain existing relationships with IMBP, Roscosmos, and the rocket and satellite manufacturer (TsSKB Progress, Samara)
• Participate in ongoing Russian experiments (already funded and manifested)
• Foton-M3 flight is a low cost opportunity to confirm results, improve research techniques, and expand the areas of inquiry based on the Foton-M2 results. The Foton-M3 data will help validate the results of NASA’s Foton-M2 investigations.

Foton-M3 Quad Chart

• Develop and demonstrate Microsatellite Free Flyer payloads, systems and technologies to facilitate utilization for multi-center, multi-discipline Advanced Capabilities applications
• Define and develop three elements to allow for immediate proof-of-concept payload and establishment of platform:
  • Integrated Free Flyer Planning and Definition: Define platform concepts and solicitation approach, engage multi-center participation.
  • MicroSat Free Flyer Payloads and Missions: Develop and fly first PI-led-science payload, PharmaSat, in September 2008 and start next phase.
  • MicroSat Systems and Architectures: Define, prototype and demonstrate MicroSat systems, architectures and technologies to allow for multi-discipline utilization of Free Flyer platform.
• Demonstrate usefulness of platform to conduct basic and applied life and physical science investigations.

Related web sites:
http://microsatellitefreeflyer.arc.nasa.gov

• To support NASA HQs in the solicitation, selection, and management of fundamental biological research
• To develop and implement opportunities to obtain biological samples from ground and space research projects, e.g., offers to participate in biospecimen sharing programs; offers to participate/collaborate in ground experiments or flight missions of national or international partners
• To provide key unique research facilities, i.e., rodent and cell research centrifuges for use by researchers selected through the NRA process.

Ground Animal Research and BSP Quad Chart

• To determine the effects of spaceflight on immune function, specifically the potential dysfunction of T-Cells

Leukin (Role of the interleukin-2 receptor in signal transduction) Quad Chart

• Assess the effects of spaceflight on gene expression for 3 microbes: S. typhimurium, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans by comparing spaceflight results with ground and modeled microgravity results.
• Assess the effects of spaceflight on the virulence potential of 3 microbes: S. typhimurium, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans by comparing spaceflight results with ground and modeled microgravity results.

Microbe (Effect of Spaceflight on Microbial Gene Expression and Virulence in S. typhimurium, P. aeruginosa, C. albicans) Quad Chart

• Specifically this experiment will determine why monocyte differentiation into macrophages is severely reduced in returning astronauts.
• To determine the effect of microgravity on Protein Kinase C (PKC) regulated genes that control monocyte differentiation, the initiation of apoptosis (cell death) and cell cycle arrest.
• To fully characterize the effect of microgravity on the activation of PKC.
• To evaluate downstream signaling of PKC in response to mitogenic stimulation.

PKINASE (Mechanisms and functional consequences of protein kinase C isoform translocation inhibition in monocytes exposed to microgravity.) Quad Chart

• Identify and characterize S. pneumonia genes and proteins that are differentially expressed in low shear models and in space flight.
• Investigate the gene and protein expression patterns of known virulence genes or virulence properties for alterations due to space flight or low shear environment growth.

SPEGIS (Streptococcus Pneumoniae Expression of Genes In Space) Quad Chart