On USML-2, Wiedemeier is growing much thinner layers to see how far substrate defects propagate into the first crystal layer. With last night's sample, we deliberately stopped growth in less time than it takes for a layer to form on Earth. If this mission demonstrates that certain reduced convection conditions produce more uniform initial layers in a shorter growth time, Wiedemeier feels it could lead to crystal growth methods on Earth that are faster, require less material and energy, and therefore are less costly. Sacco completed activating protein crystal growth experiments in the Glovebox facility yesterday afternoon. USML-2 crew members will observe the samples on Thursday to monitor the growth of the crystals.
Proteins play vital roles in daily life, from providing nourishment to fighting disease.
Many areas of biotechnology benefit from new information on the structure of proteins, such as development of food crops with higher protein content and basic research toward more effective drugs. The fluid flow cell is an investigation in fluid dynamics that models fluid flows in planets, stars and oceans, using silicone oil between two rotating hemispheres. Controllers can vary electrical charges which simulate gravity, as well as fluid temperature and rotation speed of the hemispheres, to reflect conditions in different environments. CDOT uses microscopic plastic spheres suspended in a liquid to model the behavior of atoms. As planned, red shift crew members will complete the CDOT activities later today.