Abstract Long-term sensitivity of human cells to reduced gravity has been supposed since the first Apollo missions and was demonstrated during several space missions in the past. However, little information is available on primary and rapid gravi-responsive elements in mammalian cells. In search of rapid-responsive molecular alterations in mammalian cells, short-term microgravity provided by parabolic flight maneuvers is an ideal way to elucidate such initial and primary effects. Modern biomedical research at the cellular and molecular level requires frequent repetition of experiments that are usually performed in sequences of experiments and analyses. Therefore, a research platform on Earth providing frequent, easy and repeated access to real microgravity for cell culture experiments is strongly desired. For this reason, we developed a research platform onboard the military fighter jet aircraft Northrop F-5E “Tiger II”. The experimental system consists of a programmable and automatically operated system composed of six individual experiment modules, placed in the front compartment, which work completely independent of the aircraft systems. Signal transduction pathways in cultured human cells can be investigated after the addition of an activator solution at the onset of microgravity and a fixative or lysis buffer after termination of microgravity. Before the beginning of a regular military training flight, a parabolic maneuver was executed. After a 1g control phase, the parabolic maneuver starts at 13,000ft and at Mach 0.99 airspeed, where a 22s climb with an acceleration of 2.5g is initiated, following a free-fall ballistic Keplerian trajectory lasting 45s with an apogee of 27,000ft at Mach 0.4 airspeed. Temperature, pressure and acceleration are monitored constantly during the entire flight. Cells and activator solutions are kept at 37°C during the entire experiment until the fixative has been added. The parabolic flight profile provides up to 45s of microgravity at a quality of 0.05g in all axes. Access time is 30min before take-off; retrieval time is 30min after landing. We conclude that using military fighter jets for microgravity research is a valuable tool for frequent and repeated cell culture experiments and therefore for state-of-the art method of biomedical research.
Parabolic maneuvers of the Swiss Air Force fighter jet F-5E as a research platform for cell culture experiments in microgravity
Acta Astronautica ; 68 , 11-12 ; 1729-1741
2010-11-07
13 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Parabolic flights , Microgravity , Space flight , Immune system , Bone system , ISS , International Space Station , STS , Space transportation system , MIL , Maximum thrust without engaging afterburners , MAX , Maximum thrust with afterburners engaged , AFB , Air Force Base , USAF , United States Air Force , NASA , National Aeronautics and Space Administration , NACA , National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics , ESA , European Space Agency , CNES , Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales , DLR , German Aerospace Center , μg
New Parabolic Flight Platform for Microgravity Experiments
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