SSPACE Astrobiology Payload-1 (SAP-1)
The SSPACE Astrobiology Payload (SAP) series, starting with the SAP-1 project is designed to conduct in-situ microbiology experiments in low earth orbit. This payload series aims to understand the behaviour of microbial organisms in space, particularly those critical for human health, and the corresponding effects due to microgravity and solar/galactic radiation.
SAP-1 focuses on studying Bacillus clausii and Bacillus coagulans, bacteria beneficial to humans. It aims to provide a space laboratory for astrobiology experiments under microgravity conditions. The hardware developed for these experiments is indigenous and tailored to meet the unique requirements of autonomous microbiology experiments by controlling pressure, temperature, and nutrition flow to bacteria.
A rotating platform, which forms the core design, is innovatively utilised to regulate the flow and mixing of nutrients with dormant bacteria. The technology demonstration models developed at SSPACE have yielded promising results, with ongoing efforts to refine, adapt for space conditions, and prepare for integration with nanosatellites or space modules.
The anticipated payload will be compact, approximately 1U in size (10cm x 10cm x 10cm), consume less than 5W power, and offer flexibility for various microbiological studies.
Isometric view of the technology demonstration model of the rotating platform with nutrition tank, solenoid valves, bio-wells and plumbings (3D printed tabletop model).
A Lokaveer, Thomas Anjana, Maliyekkal Yasir, S Yogahariharan, Akash Dewangan, Saurabh Kishor Mahajan, Sakshi Aravind Tembhurne, Gunja Subhash Gupta, Devashish Bhalla, Anantha Datta Dhruva, Aloke Kumar, Koushik Viswanathan, Vikram Khaire, Anand Narayanan, Priyadarshnam Hari
Comments: 20 Pages, Submitted to Advances in Space Research
Subjects: Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM); Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP); Biological Physics (physics.bio-ph)
Cite as: arXiv:2407.21183 [astro-ph.IM] (or arXiv:2407.21183v1 [astro-ph.IM] for this version)
Submission history
From: Vikram Khaire
[v1] Tue, 30 Jul 2024 20:46:49 UTC (1,392 KB)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.21183
Astrobiology,
