Experiment

Microbe-II Completed

* All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)

The second sample collection session of the Microbial Dynamics in International Space Station- Part II (Microbe-II)*, which has been performed on board Kibo, was completed.

*Principal Investigator (PI): Koichi Makimura, Associate Professor of Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology / Masao Nasu, Professor of Graduate School and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University

The Microbe experiment is designed to understand microbial environment inside Kibo. Environment in a spacecraft is a confined and microgravity environment. The experiment identifies types of microbes living inside Kibo through a long-term sample collection.

Effects of those microbial organisms on the health of ISS asronauts and equipment can be examined based on the experiment data.

The Microbe experiment consists of three flight missions, Microbe-I, II and III. This time, Microbe-II was performed. ISS Expedition 26 crew members, Scott Kelly and Catherine Coleman, performed three sample collection sessions (Feb. 26, Feb. 28, and Mar.1, respectively). The samples collected by the culture sheet were cultured for eight days using the incubation facility on board Kibo. The Microbe-II experiment was concluded when the last samples were stored in the station's refrigerator/freezer MELFI at 10:56 a.m. on March 6, 2011.

The samples will be returned to the ground aboard the space shuttle Discovery.
Various analyses on the samples are scheduled on the ground.

Special Message from Principal Investigator (PI)

The in-flight protocol of Microbe-II was rescheduled since the launch of the STS-133 (ULF-5) mission was postponed to February 2011 from the original launch date of October 2010.
We managed many schedule changes, and we launched another sample collection kits to the ISS aboard the KOUNOTORI2 (HTV2). However, thanks to the ISS crew members and those who supported our experiment, all the sample collections were completed. Microbe-III is scheduled in the fall of 2011. We appreciate your continued support.

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)