Session

Session I: Beyond LEO

Abstract

BioSentinel is a "6U" (10 x 22 x 34 cm; 14 kg) nanosatellite flying as a secondary payload aboard NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) Exploration Mission (EM) 1, scheduled for launch in 2018. BioSentinel measures the damage and repair of DNA in a biological organism and compares that to information to onboard physical radiation sensors. In order to understand the relative contributions of the space environment's two dominant biological perturbations, reduced gravity and ionizing radiation, results from deep space will be compared to data obtained in LEO (on ISS) and a ground control on Earth. These data points allow the validation of existing biological radiation damage and repair models, and for extrapolation to humans, to assist in mitigating risks during future long-term exploration missions beyond LEO.

In addition to providing the first biological results from beyond LEO in over 4 decades, BioSentinel will provide an adaptable small-satellite instrument platform to perform a range of human-exploration-relevant measurements that characterize the biological consequences of multiple outer space environments. BioSentinel is being developed at NASA Ames Research Center and funded by NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems program.

The spacecraft operates in a deep space environment (heliocentric orbit) with functions that include command and data handling, communications, power generation (via deployable solar panels) and storage, and attitude determination-and-control system with micropropulsion. The BioSentinel spacecraft advances multiple nanosatellite systems in order to function beyond LEO:

* Biofluidics managing long term (12 - 18 months) biological stasis and modular integrated sample instrumentation

* Biological measurement of solar particle events and the radiation environment beyond Earth orbit

* Close integration of living biological radiation event monitors with miniature physical radiation spectrometers

* Shielding-, hardening-, design-, and software-derived radiation tolerance for electronics

* Communications from distances of ≥ 500,000 km

* Autonomous attitude control, momentum management, and safe mode of nanosatellites in deep space

* Reliable functionality for 12 - 18 months of key subsystems

* Thermal control capable of maintain a biological payload

BioSentinel is approaching the Critical Design Review (CDR) with initial subsystems approaching completion or undergoing testing. Integration and testing of multiple subsystems are beginning. The mission concept of operations and fault management plan address mode transitions and fault recovery with limited ground communication. The BioSensor has been operating in a lab environment and the modular integrated detectors have undergone radiation testing with biological samples showing promising results for filling a strategic knowledge gaps in radiation effects on biology.

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Aug 6th, 9:30 AM Aug 6th, 9:45 AM

BioSentinel: A 6U Nanosatellite for Deep Space Biological Science

BioSentinel is a "6U" (10 x 22 x 34 cm; 14 kg) nanosatellite flying as a secondary payload aboard NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) Exploration Mission (EM) 1, scheduled for launch in 2018. BioSentinel measures the damage and repair of DNA in a biological organism and compares that to information to onboard physical radiation sensors. In order to understand the relative contributions of the space environment's two dominant biological perturbations, reduced gravity and ionizing radiation, results from deep space will be compared to data obtained in LEO (on ISS) and a ground control on Earth. These data points allow the validation of existing biological radiation damage and repair models, and for extrapolation to humans, to assist in mitigating risks during future long-term exploration missions beyond LEO.

In addition to providing the first biological results from beyond LEO in over 4 decades, BioSentinel will provide an adaptable small-satellite instrument platform to perform a range of human-exploration-relevant measurements that characterize the biological consequences of multiple outer space environments. BioSentinel is being developed at NASA Ames Research Center and funded by NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems program.

The spacecraft operates in a deep space environment (heliocentric orbit) with functions that include command and data handling, communications, power generation (via deployable solar panels) and storage, and attitude determination-and-control system with micropropulsion. The BioSentinel spacecraft advances multiple nanosatellite systems in order to function beyond LEO:

* Biofluidics managing long term (12 - 18 months) biological stasis and modular integrated sample instrumentation

* Biological measurement of solar particle events and the radiation environment beyond Earth orbit

* Close integration of living biological radiation event monitors with miniature physical radiation spectrometers

* Shielding-, hardening-, design-, and software-derived radiation tolerance for electronics

* Communications from distances of ≥ 500,000 km

* Autonomous attitude control, momentum management, and safe mode of nanosatellites in deep space

* Reliable functionality for 12 - 18 months of key subsystems

* Thermal control capable of maintain a biological payload

BioSentinel is approaching the Critical Design Review (CDR) with initial subsystems approaching completion or undergoing testing. Integration and testing of multiple subsystems are beginning. The mission concept of operations and fault management plan address mode transitions and fault recovery with limited ground communication. The BioSensor has been operating in a lab environment and the modular integrated detectors have undergone radiation testing with biological samples showing promising results for filling a strategic knowledge gaps in radiation effects on biology.