Relevant data are available on one multiplexed analog output channel that is monitored during flight. For preparation of the experiment before flight, a serial data connection is available and the instrument is linked to a personal computer. Flight performance The instrument so far has been used in two Space Shuttle missions. Due to adverse conditions during the preparation of the experiment for the first flight, the supply of nutrient did not function reliably. For the second flight, the flow sensor to control the operation of the micropump was implemented and the instrument performed flawlessly.
First results suggest that biological effects are indeed occurring in microgravity.
The miniature space bioreactor is the first instrument that permits continuous cultivation of cells within the volume of a Type II experiment container. Micro-fabrication techniques have allowed the required functionality to be integrated into this limited space. The performance of the bioreactor shows that this technology is reaching a level of maturity that permits the development of complex miniaturised instruments for highly demanding applications. Feedback Preparing for the Future Vol. Published September 1998.