Space Station Biological Research Project Habitat: Incubator

Developed as part of the suite of Space Station Biological Research Project (SSBRP) hardware to support research aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the Incubator is a temperature-controlled chamber for conducting life science research with small animal, plant and microbial specimens. The Incubator is designed for use only on the ISS and is transported to/from the ISS, unpowered and without specimens, in the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM). The Incubator interfaces with the three SSBRP Host Systems; the Habitat Holding Racks (HHR), the Life Sciences Glovebox (LSG) and the 2.5 m Centrifuge Rotor (CR), providing investigators with the ability to conduct research in microgravity and at variable gravity levels of up to 2-g.

The temperature within the Specimen Chamber can be controlled between 4° and 45^oC. Cabin air is recirculated within the Specimen Chamber and can be exchanged with the ISS cabin at a rate of ≈ 50 cc/min. The humidity of the Specimen Chamber is monitored. The Specimen Chamber has a usable volume of ≈ 19 liters and contains two (2) connectors at 28v dc (60W) for science equipment; 5 dedicated thermometers for science; ports to support analog and digital signals from experiment unique sensors or other equipment; an Ethernet port; and a video port. It is currently manifested for UF-3 and will be integrated within the first SSBRP Habitat Holding Rack for launch.