But crystals grown on Earth, affected by the forces of gravity, often have internal defects that make scientific analysis of their structures difficult, if not impossible. The Atlantis mission will continue the longest unbroken flight program of crystal growth research in space. When these protein samples are returned to Earth, they will be studied and compared to those grown on Earth, as well as to others grown in shorter time periods on previous Shuttle flights. The lead investigator for these experiments is Dr. Alexander McPherson, a professor at the University of California at Riverside. This apparatus uses the liquid-liquid diffusion and dialysis methods for protein crystal growth.
Growth is triggered by two solutions which slowly approach supersaturation as they diffuse.
Developed at Marshall Center's Laboratory for Structural Biology by lead investigator Dr. Dan Carter, the apparatus provides researchers a better opportunity to grow diffraction-sized crystals. Samples grown in space will be compared to those grown by the same method in ground-based studies. Atlantis is scheduled to dock with Mir on the third day of its mission. Landing is scheduled at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sept. 26, after a nine-day flight.