Research Database

This ISRO project will investigate the revival, survival, and reproduction of tardigrades sent to the ISS. The project will examine the revival of dormant tardigrades, count the number of eggs laid and hatched during a mission, and compare the gene expression patterns of spaceflown vs. ground control populations. The research seeks to identify molecular mechanisms of resilience which has implications for understanding the limits of life in extreme environments. This knowledge could inform future space exploration and help develop biotechnology applications on Earth.

The Wireless Acoustics project will test a commercially-available acoustic monitor for user experience, comfort, and effectiveness of capturing the acoustic levels within the ISS. The device will be worn while engaging in activities and compared to a nearby stationary sound level meter. This study will evaluate any improvement in this system compared to legacy systems, and could help inform the future design of spacecraft.

Tardigrades are known for their resilience and abvility to survive extreme environments. This project will investigate whether a tardigrade gene, integrated into a yeast gemone, can protect the yeast from the negative effects of microgravity. After genetic editing is done, yeast will be launched to and grown on the ISS, then returned to Earth for post-flight analyses. The implications of this research could be used when considering the design of sustainable ecosystems in space, on the Moon, and on Mars.

The microgravity effects on metal particles dynamics in fluids (gMETAL) project from TÜBİTAK UZAY will investigate how the lack of gravity impacts the mixing of solid particles in a gas (two-phase mixture formation) within a contained environment. This mixing is important to understand how metal particles and an oxidizing gas can react in a combustion chamber for efficient combustion and maximum heat release. Applications for this research include the development of zero-carbon energy generation technologies on Earth by burning metal particles in air; or for development of propulsion systems or energy generation on Mars, for example, by reacting metal particles with CO2 collected from the Martian atmosphere.