A shoebox-sized spacecraft that launched on NASA’s Artemis 1 mission is all set to begin its deep-space biology experiment after making a flyby of the moon.
NASA’s BioSentinel is one of 10 ride-along cubesats that lifted off on the Artemis 1 mission on Nov. 16. It aims to generate new knowledge about the potential health risks posed by long-duration crewed missions to deep space.
The roughly 30-pound (13 kilograms) cubesat had a bit of a wobble early on, with initial telemetry received from BioSentinel on Nov. 16 indicating the spacecraft was tumbling.
Related: Artemis 1 launch photos: Amazing views of NASA’s moon rocket debut (gallery)
However, the issue was corrected after commands sent via the Deep Space Network resolved the anomaly, according to a NASA statement (opens in new tab).
The cubesat was then able to make a successful lunar flyby on Nov. 22, passing as close as 250 miles (402 km) above the moon’s surface.
BioSentinel carries two strains of yeast, with the aim of learning how the perilous radiation environment of deep space affects and damages genetic material. Researchers at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California want to use the data to find potential solutions that could aid future human explorers to the moon, Mars and perhaps beyond.
Astronauts who live on the International Space Station are subjected to a much harsher radiation environment than here on Earth. But they too are protected by Earth’s magnetosphere from much of the radiation passing through deep space that can damage their DNA.
Yeast was chosen because it is both well-researched and repairs its DNA in a similar way to how the human body repairs its genetic material.
Two strains were chosen for the ride. One is a yeast commonly found in nature, while the other was selected because it has trouble repairing its DNA. Comparing how these two sets of microorganisms respond will provide new insights into the health risks associated with travel in deep space.
BioSentinel is pointing its solar panels at the sun and recharging its batteries in preparation for the start of its experiment, which is expected to begin next month, according to NASA.
“We’re excited to see how the yeast are doing once the experiment begins and we receive the first data downlink from the spacecraft,” said Matt Napoli, BioSentinel project manager at NASA Ames.
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