Open AccessBioSentinel: A Biological CubeSat for Deep Space Exploration
Author(s) -
Sofia Massaro Tieze,
Lauren C. Liddell,
Sergio R. Santa Maria,
Sharmila Bhattacharya
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
astrobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.234
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1531-1074
pISSN - 1557-8070
DOI - 10.1089/ast.2019.2068
Subject(s) - cubesat , payload (computing) , nasa deep space network , space exploration , systems engineering , computer science , aerospace engineering , space (punctuation) , astrobiology , spacecraft , remote sensing , engineering , satellite , geology , physics , computer network , network packet , operating system
BioSentinel is the first biological CubeSat designed and developed for deep space. The main objectives of this NASA mission are to assess the effects of deep space radiation on biological systems and to engineer a CubeSat platform that can autonomously support and gather data from model organisms hundreds of thousands of kilometers from Earth. The articles in this special collection describe the extensive optimization of the biological payload system performed in preparation for this long-duration deep space mission. In this study, we briefly introduce BioSentinel and provide a glimpse into its technical and conceptual heritage by detailing the evolution of the science, subsystems, and capabilities of NASA's previous biological CubeSats. This introduction is not intended as an exhaustive review of CubeSat missions, but rather provides insight into the unique optimization parameters, science, and technology of those few that employ biological model systems.
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