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2019 International Space Station

Flight Opportunity Proposal Abstracts

Table of Contents

18-2018 ISS-0001

Demonstration of Radiation Tolerant Memory Synchronization Within a Reconfigurable Flight 

Computer................................................................................................................................... 2

18-2018 ISS-0003

Assessment of Whole Genome Fitness of Bacteria Under Microgravity ..................................... 3

18-2018 ISS-0004

FY18 Alabama ISS Flight Opportunity........................................................................................ 4

18-2018 ISS-0005

One-Step Gene Sampling Tool to Improve the ISS Bioanalytical Facility ................................... 5

18-2018 ISS-0006

KRUPS: ISS Flight for Heat Shield Testing ................................................................................ 6
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18-2018 ISS-0001

Demonstration of Radiation Tolerant Memory Synchronization Within a Reconfigurable 

Flight Computer 

PI: Dr. Angela Colman Des Jardins STMD

Science PI: Brock J. LaMeres

Montana State University, Bozeman

The overall goal of this project is to conduct a satellite mission to demonstrate the 

reliability and synchronization of the memory sub-system of a radiation tolerant flight 

computer. The computer technology employs a novel fault-mitigation strategy that uses 

redundant processing cores and real-time reconfiguration of the hardware to quickly 

recover from radiation-induced failures. NASA EPSCoR has enabled this technology to 

be matured from its initial conception at TRL-1 in 2008 to its current level of TRL-7. In 

2017, the EPSCoR International Space Station (ISS) Flight Opportunity program funded 

a 1-year demonstration onboard the ISS to test the real-time reconfiguration of the 

processing cores of this computer in a space environment. 

In 2018, the EPSCoR ISS Flight Opportunity program funded a 1-year stand-alone 

satellite mission deployed from the ISS to test the core recovery procedure in an 

operational environment. In the proposed project, we will conduct a second ISSdeployed small satellite mission to test the final sub-system required by the computer, 

the fault tolerant memory system. Our memory system consists of redundant storage 

arrays configured in triple modular redundancy (TMR) with sophisticated error correction 

circuitry. Each of the active processing cores use this fault tolerant memory system as 

they run in parallel. The advantage of this architecture is that as processing cores are 

brought online after a fault, they can immediately access the memory system without 

needing to re-initialize it (i.e., reboot). This allows the new core to be quickly put into 

normal operation while only needing to restore its internal CPU registers. In this project 

we will demonstrate the fault tolerant memory system and the core synchronization 

procedure at the same time. We will leverage the existing 3U satellite design funded by 

the 2017 EPSCoR ISS Flight Opportunity program to reduce the risk of the mission. 

The satellite will be carried to the ISS on a commercial resupply mission and then put 

into orbit using the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD). This deployment 

mechanism will provide up to 12 months of satellite operation in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) 

where telemetry information will be continually downlinked to the MSU ground station in 

Bozeman, MT.
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18-2018 ISS-0003

Assessment of Whole Genome Fitness of Bacteria Under Microgravity 

PI: Dr. Nathan E. Murray SMD/HEOMD

Science PI: Patrick D. Curtis 

University of Mississippi

The conditions of spaceflight are stressful on living organisms, yet many people believe 

that bacteria, being so small that they are virtually weightless already, have no particular 

physiological response to microgravity. However, years of research have shown that 

bacteria do behave and live differently aboard space-faring vehicles. This is important 

because bacteria aboard such vessels have been shown to degrade material 

components and clog critical fluid systems before, as well as potentially pose a disease 

threat to astronauts. Unfortunately, most studies of bacteria in microgravity either have 

to use simulated microgravity on Earth which does not match all the various conditions 

of actual spaceflight, or only focused on one or two specific bacterial characteristics 

such as attachment to surfaces or stress tolerance. 

There have been few attempts to assess global bacterial physiological responses to 

spaceflight. The experiments outlined in this proposal aim to assess every gene in the 

genome of several bacterial organisms with regard to the fitness they provide for growth 

during spaceflight. This will be accomplished by using a technique referred to as 

Comparative TnSeq. In this technique, a target organism is mutagenized to create a 

library of hundreds of thousands of different mutants. Samples from this library are then 

grown under two conditions: in this case the first condition is aboard the International 

Space Station and the second condition is grown in a laboratory on Earth. Genomic 

DNA is then extracted from each culture and mutations mapped by Next Generation 

Sequencing. By comparing which mutations become under-represented in the ISS 

libraries, we can determine which genes are particularly important for growth during 

spaceflight. This will be done on several bacterial organisms to see how bacteria from 

different environments and with different physiologies respond to spaceflight, and if 

there is a gene or process that is universally important to bacterial growth in spacefaring vehicles. The more we understand how bacteria respond to spaceflight, the more 

intelligently we can design mechanisms for their control.
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18-2018 ISS-0004

FY18 Alabama ISS Flight Opportunity 

PI: Dr. Lawrence Dale Thomas SMD/STMD

Science PI: Richard Michael Banish

University Of Alabama, Huntsville

This proposal addresses research emphasis to enable the eventual production of high-silicontransition metal alloys. The thermophysical property measurements will use the Japan 

Aerospace Exploration Agency Electrostatic Levitation Furnace. The casting simulation requires 

precise and accurate thermophysical and physical properties during the entire solidification 

process. Among the required thermophysical properties are the viscosity, surface tension, 

density, and heat capacity, among others. 

Metals and metallic alloys often have high melting temperatures and highly reactive liquid 

states. Thus, processing these liquids in containers leads to significant contamination and 

uncontrolled under-cooling behavior. The above is especially true for molten silicon and its 

alloys. Thermophysical properties of these reactive materials can be determined by using an 

electrostatic levitator (ESL) which levitates and suspends a sample between two electrodes and 

subsequently analyzing (high-speed) video and temperature (pyrometer) data of the molten 

levitated samples, rather than using traditional contact techniques. This measurement technique 

eliminates many sources of experimental error, due to the inherent non-contact nature of the 

ESL. There is minimal contamination between the sample and its container, due to the 

levitation, and the experiments are done under vacuum, limiting the effects of surrounding 

gases. The ESL also offers the advantages that a single sample can be heated and cooled 

multiple times between a wide range of temperatures; samples can be under-cooled to a high 

degree; viscosity and surface tension can both be obtained from a single transient signal; and 

with a single axisymmetric oscillation induced in the sample, the data analysis becomes clear 

and relatively straightforward. 

Density and heat capacity are performed as a separate but paired set of experiments. Silicontransition metal alloys maintain the lower density, high compressive strength, and mitigate the 

brittleness of pure silicon. While silicon itself is corrosion resistant, it wets and dissolves all but a 

few materials; molten silicon is commonly called â€œthe universal solventâ€•. The 

development of low-density (low-mass), high strength, compression alloys for space missions 

would enable lower mass components resulting in less vehicle mass and higher durability. The 

wetting ability of molten silicon coupled with its high melting point makes the determination of its 

thermophysical properties experimentally challenging. Silicon and silicon-transition metal alloys 

are systems that can take advantage of the benefits of container-less processing, or levitation 

facilities in a low gravity environment. Silicon is a semiconductor or semi-metal depending on 

the temperature. The levitation and melting of silicon in terrestrial Electrostatic Levitator systems 

requires close attention and adjustment of the sample size, heating and levitation parameters. 

Off-eutectic alloys are particularly difficult to process since during melting there is a mixture of 

liquid and solid. The determination of thermophysical properties such as viscosity, surface 

tension, density, and heat capacity of silicon alloys is well-suited to electrostatic levitation in a 

low gravity environment due to the lower electrostatic forces required for sample.
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18-2018 ISS-0005

One-Step Gene Sampling Tool to Improve the ISS Bioanalytical Facility 

PI: Prof. T. Gregory Guzik HEOMD/SMD

Science PI: Niel D. Crews, Louisiana Tech University

Louisiana Board of Regents

This proposal is to request an ISS flight for validation of a solid-phase genetic sampling 

device that will be a powerful addition to the instruments that are already on-station. 

This implementation of the technology will reduce crew time for RNA extraction by 

nearly two orders of magnitude, provide sampling that will be less invasive than existing 

methods, and provide repeated sampling of specimens. These enhancements 

represent a significant improvement for space biologists. The small size reduces mass 

and enhances sampling precision as select tissue volumes can be analyzed.

The aim to support extended human presence in space has led to the establishment of 

NASA’s GeneLab, which combines a data base repository dedicated to ISS biological 

experiments and corresponding ground-based studies. Superior analytical tools such as 

the proposed technology will enhance genetic analyses at variable intervals without 

destroying the specimen as is required for traditional technology. The solid-phase 

extraction avoids transfer of biopsy material is minimally invasive and does not require

sacrificing of the specimen. Most valuably, though, the probes need no further 

processing to separate RNA from the tissue. Based on probe preparation either a 

sample of all available mRNA or specific mRNA hybridizes to the surface of the probe. 

In either case no tissue or nuclear contamination occurs. Sampling is completed after a 

one-minute insertion into the specimen and the probe can be analyzed directly in the 

ISS genetic testing hardware. 

The components of the Wetlab-2 tools have been validated on the ISS and includes a 

RT-qPCR system (a modified Cepheid SmartCycler) in which RNA is reversetranscribed and analyzed. Part of the lab suite is a rather complicated suite of sample 

preparation hardware that is used to extract and purify RNA from biological material. 

Although functional, the sample preparation relies heavily on crew time. Furthermore, 

the amount of liquid handling required for the sample preparation requires two levels of

containment for those steps. To simplify the sample prep for specimens, we propose 

that our technology that has been validated by numerous publications be used in the 

WetLab-2 RNA work flow. Instead of using the conventional liquid-based process, the 

purification of genetic material can be performed dry, utilizing a functionalized metal pin. 

The technique, which is relatively mature, was recently adapted for compatibility with 

the ISS environment and analytical tools. This technology development was funded by a 

NASA EPSCoR research project entitled, Genetic Assessment of the Space 

Environment Using MEMS Technologies.
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18-2018 ISS-0006

KRUPS: ISS Flight for Heat Shield Testing 

PI: Suzanne Weaver Smith STMD/HEOMD

Science PI: Alexandre Martin

University of Kentucky, Lexington

Thermal protection systems (TPS) are required to mitigate the extreme heating 

encountered during hypersonic entry into the Martian, Venusian, and outer planet 

atmospheres as well as for manned and sample-return missions into the terrestrial 

atmosphere. The design of an efficient TPS remains one of the most challenging tasks 

of planetary exploration missions. Over the last 50 years, only a handful of high-speed 

entry experiments have been performed. Not only were these flights part of elaborate 

and costly exploration programs, but the TPS tested were at the final stage of design. In 

order to reach that stage, extensive ground test campaigns had to be performed, using 

arc-jet and hypersonic tunnel facilities, but none were flight proven. There is clearly a 

need to provide a low-cost test-bed to quickly and reliably evaluate TPS materials, and 

provide orbital flight validation data.

The Kentucky Re-entry Universal Payload System (KRUPS) is a small entry capsule 

designed as a technology test-bed, built at the University of Kentucky. For this first 

incarnation, KRUPS has been designed to test TPS material and instrumentation. 

KRUPS recently completed two sounding rocket sub-orbital flights, aimed at testing 

various sub-systems. After completion of these prior tests, the KRUPS capsule is 

matured and ready for more extensive tests, this time at orbital velocities. The overall 

objective of the proposed project is to launch a KRUPS capsule from the International 

Space Station, and use the capsule to obtain orbital entry data for numerical model 

validation.

The proposed project leverages NASA EPCSoR RA investment by 1) using the 

modeling codes developed through these investments to design and size the TPS of the 

capsule and 2) gathering flight data acquired to provide additional validations for these 

codes.