Blaha started another sample at week's end,which is a slow growth sample. It is scheduled to grow for 90 days undisturbed in a Priroda module locker. Also this week, Blaha collected samples of the microbial environment around Mir, including the air, water, spacecraft surfaces and samples from the Mir crew members' skin. This research is aimed at understanding the microbial ecology of Mir including bacterial, fungi and some viruses. BTS investigates cell attachment patterns and interactions among single cell cultures and varied cell cultures, the role of cells in forming functional tissue and other areas of interest.
Greenhouse is a set of experiments to study the effect of space flight on plant development.
Plants may play a critical role in sustaining human life on future long space flights. Protein crystals are used in basic biological research, pharmacology and drug development. Space-grown crystals are larger and purer with fewer defects. Blaha has now settled into a scientific research routine on the Mir, itemizing and storing items from transfer bags which were transferred to the Mir from the shuttle Atlantis on the STS-79 mission. The next Mir 22 status report will be issued on Friday, October 18th.