# Presentation: 100768

## DUSEL Experiment Development and Coordination (DEDC)Internal Design ReviewJuly 16-18, 2008Steve Elliott, Derek Elsworth, Daniela Leitner, Larry Murdoch, Tullis C. Onstott and Hank Sobel

## Cross-cutting Applications (CCA)

- Robert McTaggart (SDSU)  	Program Manager
- Peggy McMahan (LBNL)	    	Microelectronics
- Betsy Sutherland (BNL)		Radiation Biology
- Bruce Bleakley (SDSU)     	Irradiation Studies
- Gary Anderson (SDSU)		Algal Biomass
- Neil Reese (SDSU)		UndergroundAgriculture
- Thomas Schumacher (SDSU)	UndergroundAgriculture

## Cross-cutting Applications (CCA)

- Xingyou Gu (SDSU)
- Howard Woodard (SDSU)
- Eugene Butler (SDSU)
- Arvid Boe (SDSU)
- Anil Kommareddy (SDSU)
- Michael Twedt (SDSU)
- Doug McFarland (SDSU)
- Larry Browning (SDSU)
- Qiquan Qiao (SDSU)

- Haiping Hong (SDSMT)
- Kurt Rosentrater (USDA)
- Joel Cuello (U of Arizona)

## Radiation Biology

- Objectives
- Study the effects of “chronic” low dose exposures on human and mammalian cells.
- Examine the effects of radiation on deep life at Homestake.
- Why DUSEL?
- 4850 is deeper than other low dose studies.  Synergy exists with low background counting facility.
- The native microbes can only be found at Homestake.
- Why in the near future?
- Low dose exposures affect cancer risk assessments for occupational doses, nuclear power, space/air travel.
- Microbes have industrial applications, such as biofuels.
- Expected results and their significance
- Low dose studies test the hormesis effect.  Immune responses to disease and radiation may be affected by low doses.
- Hardiness to radiation important for study of extremophiles, history of deep life.  Radiation may select out hyper-producers of ethanol, methane.

## Initial experiments

- Low dose studies of human cells
- Cultured in Brookhaven, placed at Homestake in an incubator, taken back to Brookhaven for analysis.
- Growth rates, metabolism, rates of apoptosis, etc.
- Study human cancer cell lines
- colon adenocarcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, ovarian adenocarcinoma, mammary gland cancer, human osteosarcoma, and human skin melanoma.
- Cultured initially at SDSU.
- Irradiation of microbes already isolated from Homestake
- Irradiation done at 3M gamma irradiator in Brookings, or by X-rays at USDA facility.
- Search for radiation resistance, applications to biofuels
- Contact made with NASA, USD School of Medicine

## Facility Needs

- Facilities
- A surface facility and an underground facility at 4850 needed for comparison studies.
- Cell culture facility at both sites:  SDSU facility is 16’ by 25’.
- CO2, liquid nitrogen, incubators, autoclaves, refrigerator/freezer, fume hoodds, and other materials commonly used in biology.
- Underground facility requires Radon-reduced air.
- X-ray irradiator for ionizing radiation needed.
- E&O
- Participation in collaboration’s planned S4 teacher workshop
- Hands-on opportunities for students and teachers at the surface facility (both for biologists and for radiation background assay).
- Risk identification and management
- Control of radiation dose at 4850
- X-ray irradiator requires health physics oversight, restricted use
- Biocontainment important near low background counting

## Schedule – S4 Activities

- Radiation assay of microbes can begin in year 1.
- Engineering design of surface and underground facilities needed (environmental control and ventilation essential).
- Full-scale operations at Homestake need cell culture facilities.
- Radiation safety needed in design for X-ray irradiator.
- Will invite potential collaborators at USD School of Medicine, NASA, etc. to collaboration workshop in year 1.
- Will develop and participate in E&O workshop in year 2.

## Underground Agriculture

- Objectives
- Develop a testing center for sustainable agriculture technologies needed for NASA missions to the Moon and Mars.
- Grow transgenic crops in isolated environments for use in biopharmaceutical production, etc.
- Assist in making DUSEL a “green” laboratory (remediation of grey water, heavy minerals).
- Develop organic LED lighting system to reduce power needs and heat.
- Why is DUSEL the best or only place this experiment can be done?
- DUSEL is not the only place this could be done to get away from cosmic rays, but the availability of a large and safe space underground is significant.
- The temperature profile of the mine and removal of the diurnal cycle may assist in producing optimal growth conditions.
- The wide variety of regolith at Homestake is a good testing ground for the unknown content of a particular off-world site.
- Why is it important to do these experiments in the near future?
- Lunar mission “on-track” for 2020.
- Nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals needed for treatment of disease/cancer.
- Expected results and their significance
- Interactions among soil, plants, light, microbes in controlled environments applicable to terrestrial agriculture.
- Tech transfer opportunities for local economy.

## Initial Experiments

- Greenhouse experiments at SDSU with rock from Homestake
- Evaluate impact of particle size on drainage
- Grass and dicot species of plant
- Regular greenhouse lighting initially
- Short-duration annuals for multiple trials in a year
- Follow-up study
- Manipulate pH, plant nutrition from seedlings
- Monitor uptake of heavy metals
- Development of soil, root system, and microflora studied
- Transgenic crops
- Have contacted biopharmaceutical companies
- Initial applications at Homestake would seek level 2 containment

## Facility Needs

- Facilities
- 2 initial sites requested:  moderate and deep, each 6m X 8m with 3m in height.
- Potable water, deionizer, water storage/removal
- Ability to adjust temperatures to within ±2.5°C ; adjust for day/night; air-flow controls
- 500 W/m2 for electricity ; 1000 micromoles m-2 s-1 PAR
- Remote monitoring
- Autoclave
- E&O
- Plant Science displays with vistor’s center
- Student research opportunities
- Risk identification and management
- Environmental conditions important for plant studies
- Biocontainment of pollen needed for transgenics (would basically act like dust).

## Schedule – S4 activities

- Initial characterization of plant growth in Homestake regolith needed.
- Level 2 containment for biopharmaceuticals would need some design.
- Potential collaborators in biopharmaceuticals, NASA to be contacted for S4 collaboration workshop (year 1).
- Will develop and participate in E&O workshop in year 2.
- Development of organic LED systems desired.
- Fully integrated agricultural systems need a partner like NASA and/or USDA.

## Algal Biomass

- Objectives
- To develop a photobioreactor to grow algae for applications such as biofuel production.
- Why is DUSEL the best or only place this experiment can be done?
- Algae exists at Homestake.  What applications can be derived from native species?
- The combined effect of the temperature profile at Homestake, reduction in UV/cosmic rays, and removal of the diurnal cycle needs to be studied to optimize the production of algae.
- Why is it important to do these experiments in the near future?
- Biofuels are needed for energy independence and decreased fuel costs.
- Algae can be used for carbon sequestration strategies.
- Can assist in the “greening” of DUSEL.
- Expected results and their significance
- Biofuels of interest for the South Dakota economy.
- Energy companies need to reduce carbon emissions.
- Can support underground agriculture and NASA initiatives (oxygen, waste processing, supply of nutrients).

## Initial experiments

- Assay of native algae
- Growth characteristics, favored environmental conditions (including light intensity and frequency)
- Low and high dose radiation studies needed
- Background radiation assay needed at depth
- Develop a prototype photobioreactor
- Compare effects on the surface and different underground environments
- Supplement power needs through photovoltaics and direct light piping underground.
- Develop organic LEDs that can produce the optimal frequencies of light.

## Facility Needs

- Facilities
- Need control of environmental conditions
- Surface and underground locations desired
- Industrial processing would need more space, initial prototypes could use something similar to what underground ag is requesting
- E&O
- Opportunities for access to surface studies for students/teachers, public
- Will participate in collaboration E&O workshop
- Risk identification and management
- Engineering needed to deliver light from surface through rock, to design systems that mix and process the algae.
- Need to process CO2, oxygen, water, wastes underground

## Schedule – S4 activities

- Assay of Homestake algae can begin in year 1.
- Will coordinate with industrial partners and external interests for S4 collaboration workshop.
- Will participate in the development of E&O workshop in year 2.
- Engineering design needed for various systems (lighting, processing, heating/cooling, mechanical mixing, etc.) and coordination with Homestake.

## Systems Test Facility for Microelectronics

- Objectives
- Develop a low background laboratory for long term system testing of, for example, microelectronics, photovoltaics and LEDs
-  Sample microelectronics applications:
- Measure effects of alpha contamination in manufacturing process
- Study origin of the ELDR (Enhanced Low Dose Rate) effects in certain bipolar transistors
- Sample LED and photovoltaic effects
- Lifetime of organic LEDs in low radiation environment
- Because this laboratory could be built at the 300’ level, it is not unique to the Homestake site; however, it would have potential to
- Stimulate local economy
- Provide E&O opportunities
- Provide a multidisciplinary service for minimal cost
- Having this laboratory would provide a good synergy with the low background counting group

## Facility Needs

- Facilities
- Electronics and materials laboratory space on 300’ level, including
- Radon-reduced environment
- Clean room
- X-ray irradiator shared with radiation biology
- Electronics and materials laboratory space on the surface
- E&O
- Undergraduates & teachers can take part in initial measurements of background radiation (alpha, gamma and neutron) at 300’ level
- After completion, facility would be available for
- Public tours
- Teacher/student workshops
- Research opportunities

## Schedule

- Initial contacts have been made with radiation testing experts and discussions are in progress
- S-4 activities
- Experts and potential collaborators will be invited to the proposed S-4 workshop on crosscutting applications for Year 1
- Engineering design of a facility will be pursued over the three years of S-4
- Background levels will be mapped out at the 300’ level (alpha, gamma and neutron) in collaboration with low background counting group