Solutions

Mission

Technology demonstrator (Miniature microscope demonstration) for space biology onboard ISS.

Space biology takes place within closed containers (vacuum tightness, thermal requirements, safety). As a consequence, microscope diagnostics must either be integrated within the experiment into a closed container, or in case of a manned environment, in a safe glovebox.

Biolab is the ESA facility to perform biological experiments in space, to study the effect of microgravity and space radiation on samples as cell cultures, small invertebrates, micro-organisms, small plants. Biolab is flown on the ESA Columbus Module, part of the International Space Station (ISS).

OIP’s Participation

For space biology OIP participated in several studies and projects for the miniaturization of microscope diagnostics for ESA since the ‘90ies. This resulted in the definition, development and demonstration of Miniature Microscopes (MiMi)

OIP, as a subcontractor to Dutch Space [former Fokker Space, The Netherlands], developed a prototype of a very compact fluorescence miniature microscope for the automatic observation of live biological samples over extended periods of time, to be used on the ISS Biolab Advanced Experiment Container (AEC). OIP was responsible for the optical microscope subsystem.

The project was performed for ESA (ESA contract no. 15656/NL/ND), under subcontract to Dutch Space.

Status

The prototype model microscopes were delivered to Dutch Space (Leiden, The Netherlands) and have been subjected to a series of performance tests in which optical test objects (resolution, focus, etc.) and representative (non-living) biological specimen were used.

Unfortunately the microscopes were not selected for AEC on Biolab.