The European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) - A joint NASA/ESA facility for Life Science Research onboard the International Space Station

摘要

NASA and ESA's joint facility for biological investigations under microgravity was launched to the ISS in July of 2006 and has already completed 2 experiments, a 3rd one has been started on August 24th and is expected to last until November 2007. EMCS provides the environment for cultivation, stimulation and crew assisted operation of biological experiments under well controlled conditions, like temperature, atmosphere composition, water supply, illumination, observation, acceleration on centrifuges. EMCS is a self-standing facility that operates mainly autonomously. For experiment set-up and exchange of consumables (gas/water) crew involvement is needed. After finishing the experiment set-up the facility can be controlled by commanding either from the ground or by the on-orbit crew. This paper describes the layout of the facility the operational setup for its scientific utilization.