EuCROPIS
Life sciences research | |
| Operator | German Aerospace Center[1] |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 2018-099BB |
| SATCAT no. | 43807 |
| Mission duration | Planned: 1 year[1] Final: 1 year and 28 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | DLR Compact Satellite bus[2][3] |
| Manufacturer | DLR |
| Launch mass | 250 kg (550 lb)[1][3] |
| Dimensions | 1.0 m diameter x 1.13 m length[3] with panels deployed: 2.88 m wide[3] |
| Power | 520 W, 4 solar arrays, Li-ion batteries[1][3] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 3 December 2018 Vandenberg Air Force Base |
| Contractor | SpaceX[6] |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Decommissioned |
| Deactivated | 31 December 2019 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth (SSO) |
| Perigee altitude | 575 km (357 mi)[3] |
| Inclination | 98°[2][3] |
| Period | 10 h |
| Epoch | Planned[5] |
| Transponders | |
| Band | S band[3] |
Eu:CROPIS (Euglena and Combined Regenerative Organic-Food Production in Space) was a life science satellite developed by the
Overview
This orbital mission was intended to simulate and teste two
In more detail, porous lava stones were fitted in trickle filters and dried soil containing normal soil microbial colonies. Microbes would then use nitrite (NO−
2) to convert the harmful ammonia (NH
3) into nitrate (NO−
3), which is then added to six tomato seeds as liquid fertiliser.[6] In addition, the system incorporated a colony of the single-cell microorganism Euglena gracilis, a photosynthetic algae able to produce oxygen and biomass while protecting the entire system against high ammonia concentrations.[6][7] This oxygen is necessary for the conversion of urine to nitrate until the photosynthetic oxygen production by the tomatoes is sufficient.[7]
The spacecraft was designed replicate lunar gravity on one greenhouse for a period of six months before simulating Martian gravity on the second greenhouse for the next six months.[6] The level of gravity on the Moon (0.16 g) and Mars (0.38 g) was simulated by rotating the spacecraft's cylindrical body around its longitudinal axis.[1] The various payload experiments were placed in different areas within the cylinder.[3] Tomato seed germination and plant growth were monitored with 16 cameras,[6] while the RAMIS (RAdiation Measurement In Space) radiometers monitored the radiation inside and outside the spacecraft.[6][7]
The greenhouse was made of clear polycarbonate, with an approximate volume of 12 L (730 in3).[7] The closed system featured moisture, pH, oxygen, pressure and temperature sensors, and was capable of controlling these parameters. Four small fans created airflow through a cooling device to maintain a stable "atmospheric" temperature. On top of the greenhouse, three lamps provided light in the correct spectrum for photosynthesis.[7] Scanners and fluorometers measured cell density and photosynthetic yield. The fluids were to be monitored with seven electrodes to measure ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, pH, chloride, sodium, and potassium.[7]
To monitor the health of Euglena gracilis, the system also analysed the microbes'
Objectives
The aim was to develop a stable, and
Supporting science payloads
- PowerCell (Payload 2, from NASA Ames Research Center) will investigate the performance of microbial mini-ecologies.[8] These will contain the carbohydrate (sugar) products of photosynthesis, which will feed Bacillus subtilis, a robust bacterium commonly found in soil and the gut, which has already proven that it can withstand the rigors of space while in the spore form. A second objective of the PowerCell Payload is to conduct synthetic biology remotely in outer space. The basic technique for introducing genetic material into a living cell, called transformation, involves the transfer across a cells encasing membrane of genetic material. The PowerCell payload will examine if and how reduced gravity levels affect transformation processes. The third objective is to test protein production under different gravity regimes. Using the tools of synthetic biology, B. subtilis was engineered to produce several proteins which will be produced at the three different space gravity regimes. The ability to make proteins in space will be fundamental for human exploration, as proteins will be used to produce a range of critical substances, from on-demand food and vaccines to building materials.
- Radiation Measurement in Space (Payload 3) has the goal of collecting data on long-term exposure to
- SCORE (Payload 4) is a technology demonstrator for next generation on-board computing in hardware and software developed by the DLR Institute of Space Systems. It is complemented by a set of three cameras that are commanded via SCORE.[9][3]
Satellite characteristics
Both the satellite and the experiment are called Eu:CROPIS. The satellite features four gyroscopes, two magnetometers, three magnetic torque rods and a Sun sensor in combination with a single-frequency Phoenix GPS receiver for attitude control.[3][10] The power for the satellite is provided by an Electrical Power Subsystem, which includes a lithium-ion battery and four deployable fixed solar arrays delivering an average of 520 W of power.[1]
Results
The Eu:CROPIS mission ended on 31 December 2019. The three supporting payloads generated large amounts of data, but the eponymous Eu:CROPIS experiment failed to activate due to a software problem. The satellite is expected to slowly de-orbit over the next two decades before reentering Earth's atmosphere.[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Eu:CROPIS". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ a b Institute of Space Systems, Status Report 2007-2016. (PDF) DLR.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Eu CROPIS - eoPortal Directory - Satellite Missions". directory.eoportal.org. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "SpaceX Twitter". twitter.com. 2018-12-02.
- ^ a b "UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL ELV LAUNCH MANIFEST". sworld.com.au. 2018-09-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g DLR. "Eu:CROPIS – Greenhouses for the Moon and Mars". DLR Portal. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ ISSN 0938-0108.
- ^ Kovo, Yael (2015-11-09). "PowerCell". NASA. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "Food Production in Space - Operating a Greenhouse in Low Earth Orbit (PDF)". nasaspaceflight.com. 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ Attitude Control System of the Eu:CROPIS Mission. (PDF) Ansgar Heidecker, Takahiro Kato, Olaf Maibaum, Matthew Hölzel. DLR Institute of Space Systems.
- ^ "Farewell to the Eu:CROPIS mission". DLR. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
