January 11, 2007
John Bluck
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Phone: (650) 604-5026
E-mail: jbluck@mail.arc.nasa.gov
RELEASE: 07_01AR
NASA GENESAT SHOWS SMALL SATELLITES CAN DELIVER BIG SCIENCE
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. – A very small NASA satellite has proven that
scientists can quickly design and launch a new class of inexpensive
spacecraft -- and conduct significant science.
The 11-pound (5-kilogram) GeneSat-1, carrying bacteria inside a
miniature laboratory, was launched on Dec. 16, 2006. It was a
secondary payload on an Air Force four-stage Minotaur 1 rocket that
delivered the Air Force TacSat 2 satellite to orbit. GeneSat-1 began
to transmit data on its first pass over the mission's California
ground station. Scientists still receive data from the satellite
regularly.
"GeneSat proves that big science can be done using small satellites,"
said GeneSat project manager John Hines, an engineer and scientist at
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. "GeneSat's success
points out how NASA can spend less money and time to learn new things
in space," Hines observed.
According to Hines, GeneSat-1 is NASA's first fully automated,
self-contained biological spaceflight experiment on a satellite of
its size. "Based on this success, we expect that in the near future,
this class of small satellite will see increasing acceptance and
usage by the science community," Hines noted.
"All systems – the biology experiment, the life support, ground
antenna and communications – performed beyond our wildest
expectations," Hines said. "These small satellites will help us
understand the hazards and risks associated with human space travel,"
Hines ventured.
The cost to develop the GeneSat satellite class, launch the first
spacecraft and operate it was a fraction of what it normally costs to
conduct a mission in space, according to scientists. Subsequent
GeneSat-class missions will cost much less, Hines predicted.
Researchers say that knowledge gained from GeneSat-1 will help
scientists understand how spaceflight affects the human body.
GeneSat-1's onboard micro-laboratory includes sensors and optical
systems that can detect proteins that are the products of specific
genetic activity.
Biological data returned so far have exceeded the project’s pre-launch
success criteria, according to GeneSat-1 lead biologist Macarena
Parra. "Throughout the experiment, the temperature remained constant
and all systems functioned properly to record our required data,"
Parra said.
Researchers will further analyze GeneSat-1's on-board systems during
the remaining life of the satellite, according to Bruce Yost, the
GeneSat-1 mission manager.
“We plan to conduct a number of engineering tests and evaluations to
increase our confidence in the GeneSat platform," Yost said. "In the
next few weeks, we will hand over the GeneSat-1 spacecraft to Santa
Clara University, Santa Clara, Calif., for use as a training tool for
future aerospace engineers.” GeneSat-1 will reenter the Earth’s
atmosphere and burn up before the end of the year.
"Our partnership with the Santa Clara University mission operations
team has surpassed all of our expectations with their level of
performance and professionalism," Hines said. "This is the first NASA
mission to be operated by a student-based team; they worked around
the clock and over a holiday break to complete our primary mission.
It was a remarkable success," Hines added.
"Having students apply their engineering knowledge and skills in
compelling, real-world applications is a critical component of our
robotics program," said Professor Chris Kitts of Santa Clara
University. "Our partnership with NASA on the GeneSat-1 mission is a
great example of this. SCU students are an integral part of an
exciting, cutting-edge space mission, and they are gaining valuable
experience in applying their engineering skills within the context of
a diverse, interdisciplinary team," Kitts added.
“We are looking forward to flying more small satellites,” Hines
concluded.
The Small Spacecraft Office at NASA Ames teamed with industry and
local universities to develop GeneSat's fully automated, miniature
spaceflight system that provides life support for small living
things.
GenSat-1 information and flight status can be found at:
http://genesat1.engr.scu.edu/dashboard/index.htm
http://genesat1.org
Publication-size images are available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/multimedia/images/2006/genebox.html
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