Code UG Weekly Notes 1-30-02

Physical Sciences Division
Weekly Highlights for Week Ending 1/30/2002

*** Indicates item is appropriate for the HQ senior staff and may appear
on the OBPR Web site: http://spaceresearch.nasa.gov

GENERAL

PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NASA GLENN AND CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION: NASA
Glenn Research Center (GRC) and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF)
recently signed a Space Act Agreement to share expertise and jointly test,
characterize, and potentially fabricate new optically based oxygen sensors
for use in new applications. GRC’s Microgravity Science Division has extensive
experience and test data with these and other types of oxygen sensors
in support of its microgravity combustion science program, and plans to
fly them in the ‘Candle Flames in Microgravity’ experiment and in the
Fluids and Combustion Facility racks on ISS. The CCF now needs to implant
these sensors in animals in support of some of their bone growth/loss
research studies, and asked for collaboration with GRC in using these
optically based oxygen sensors for their application. The optical sensors
are smaller and less intrusive than their predecessors and often offer
better spatial resolution. (Point of Contact: 6700/H. Ross, 3-2562)

EDUCATION and OUTREACH

OUTREACH TO NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS (Woodard):
The Microgravity Research Program Office (MRPO) Outreach and Education
Lead supported NASA Headquarters’ Office of Biological and Physical Research
(OBPR) by accompanying them on site visits to the Executive Directors
of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the International
Technology Education Association (ITEA) and the National Association of
Biology Teachers (NABT). The meetings were a follow-up to the OBPR Education
Summit held at the Glenn Research Center last year, and provide a basis
for developing collaborative projects with the associations.

EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENT ACCESS TO SPACE PROGRAM (Curreri):
Between 11/30/01 and 12/10/2001, Marshall Space Flight Center’s (MSFC)
Biological and Physical Research Laboratory personnel assisted in conducting
a series of workshops for more than 100 high school students and their
teachers to learn methods of crystallization of biological macromolecules
and the use of Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen (EGN) Dewar. The samples prepared
during these workshops have been stored in MSFC’s Structural Biology Laboratory
and will be loaded in the EGN Dewar for the STS-110 mission in March 2002.
This will be the fourth launch of the EGN Dewar to the International Space
Station, and it is noteworthy that student samples have been included
in each flight. EGN Principal Investigator, Alexander McPherson, and the
University of California in Irvine’s (UCI) Huntsville engineering office
organized the workshops. Dr. Ewa Ciszak (MSFC) serves as the EGN Project
Scientist.

VENTURE EXPLORER GROUP MEETING Curreri): On 12/19/2001, the Venture Explorer
Group had its first training session with Anna Holmes, University of Alabama
in Huntsville (UAH/Marshall Space Flight Center {MSFC}), and Tia Ferguson
(MSFC/Experiment Definition and Development Group) to assist with the
Student Access to Space Program. The six high school students will help
maintain a web page that permits outreach students who have conducted
ground control vapor diffusion crystallization to visualize their crystallization
screens online. The Venture Explorer members were selected for their interest
and ability to learn the skills necessary for the positions. The members
will modify an existing web template to establish new user web pages,
conduct online searches for gif images that portray the hobbies or intended
careers of the outreach students, and conduct digital photo microscopy
of the crystals. The students will learn how to upload image and data
files for publication online.

SHUTTLE FLIGHT PROGRAM

STS-107 NEW MANIFEST DATED TARGETED (Boudreaux): STS-107 launch has been
delayed from June 23, 2002 and is currently manifested to launch on 7/11/02.
Further delays are expected by Shuttle managers from the Johnson Space
Center and Kennedy Space Center.

ISS FLIGHT PROGRAM

MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH PROGRAM OFFICE (MRPO) PAYLOAD OPERATIONS STATUS
ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) UF1 STAGE (Vlasse): Payload operations
for Week 7 (1/27 – 2/2/02) of Increment 4 (UF1 Stage) are continuing with
no major problems or interruptions. MRPO payloads dealing with experiments
on cell science, structural biology are active and functioning nominally.
The study of colloids and their behavior in space is continuing and the
acceleration measurements are progressing normally. The study of plant
growth and the investigation on the zeolite materials will begin later
in the increment.

STS-108 UF-1 (Erdman): De-integration of the MPLM is on going. to date,
the Dynamically Controlled Protein Crystal Growth (DCPCG) and the Micro
Encapsulation Electrostatic Processing System (MEPS-II) has been de-integrated
and shipped back to the payload developer. Two Biotechnology Cell Science
Stowage (BCSS) Stowage caddies have been removed and are waiting to be
shipped back to the Johnson Space Center.

SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Cross Discipline:

CRYSTAL GROWTH OF ZnSe AND RELATED TERNARY COMPOUND SEMICONDUCTORS BY
VAPOR TRANSPORT (Curreri): Dr. Ching-Hua Su (MSFC) and Dr. Shari Feth,
University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) have been included as consultants
on a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovative Research
(SBIR) proposal, submitted by Rice Systems, Inc. The SBIR is entitled
"Crystal Surface Profiling Interferometer for Real Time Semiconductor
Material Characterization" and will develop optical techniques to
monitor changes in surface structures from a relatively long stand-off
distance. Dr. Ching-Hua Su (MSFC) is the Principal Investigator of the
NASA flight definition project that will benefit from the surface monitoring
technique.

NLO MATERIAL IS TWO-PHOTON POLYMERIZED (Curreri): Two-photon photopolymerization
of the diacetylene DAMNA has been accomplished for the first time, opening
up a powerful new processing route for integrated nonlinear optical materials
and photonic bandgap materials. Currently, photodeposition of nonlinear
optical PDAMNA films is limited to a few microns because as the polymer
forms it begins to absorb the very ultraviolet light that causes it to
form, i.e., it’s a self-limiting processing mode. In two-photon photopolymerization,
two-photons (at half the energy) are absorbed simultaneously (within a
time dictated by the uncertainty principle), which means that lower-frequency
light away from the linear absorption edge of the material may be used.
Not only will this discovery enable the formation of thicker waveguides,
it also paves the way for 3D stereolithography of these nonlinear optical
materials into virtually any integrated optical structure.

Biotechnology:

INVITED TALK AT STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM (Curreri): Dr. E.H. Snell,
Universities Space Research Association (USRA/MSFC), presented an invited
talk on "Neutrons and Microgravity" at the 3rd International
Symposium on "Development of New Structural Biology Including Hydrogen
and Hydration" in Tsukuba, Japan, 12/10-12/2001. The Japan Atomic
Energy Research Institute and the National Institute of Agrobiological
Sciences organized the meeting. The symposium is one in a series to promote
the structural study of protonation and hydration in macromolecules using
neutron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
methods, and computer simulation.

BIOTECHNOLOGY CARRIERS (BIC) (Lee): The Single-locker Thermal Enclosure
System (STES)/Protein Crystallization Apparatus for Microgravity (PCAM)
hardware, launched on the Utilization Flight-1 flight on 12/05/01, continues
to operate nominally in the ISS EXPRESS Rack. Troubleshooting of the Diffusion-Controlled
Crystallization Apparatus for Microgravity (DCAM) hardware that failed
leak testing 11/01 is on-going. Thermal Enclosure System flight hardware
modifications to accompany the Observable Protein Crystal Growth Apparatus
are in process.

ITERATIVE BIOLOGICAL CRYSTALLIZATION (Curreri): The Iterative Biological
Crystallization (IBC) project has received the first custom made lab-on-a-chip
(LOC) designed specifically for the batch crystallization of macromolecules.
The chip was designed and fabricated through collaborative efforts with
Caliper Technologies. Testing of the chip performance and crystallization
experiments are underway. This is an important milestone for the IBC team’s
quest in demonstrating further the efficacy of LOC technology for macromolecular
crystallizations.

Glovebox:

MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE GLOVEBOX (MSG) (Johnson): Turnover of the MSG Flight
Rack to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) occurred 01/07/02. Afterward, testing
by KSC personnel, with support from the Marshall Space Flight Center’s
(MSFC) Microgravity Science and Applications Department personnel began
in the Payload Checkout Test System (PCTS). This testing is to be completed
by 02/14/02. On 02/19/02 the flight rack is scheduled to be installed
into the Mini-Pressurized Logistics Module. Launch to the International
Space Station is scheduled 05/02/02 on Utilization Flight 2.

MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE GLOVEBOX (MSG) INVESTIGATIONS (Johnson) Several
verification test items were closed on the Glovebox Integrated Microgravity
Isolation Technology Investigation (g-LIMIT) during testing in the MSG
EU. The problems that continue to surface with the Investigations are
impacting delivery schedules to KSC. Following hardware/software rework,
a more realistic delivery schedule can be developed. Testing of the Solidification
Using a Baffled Sample Ampoule (SUBSA) and Pore Formation and Mobility
Investigation (PFMI) in the MSG Engineering Rack occurred 01/18 to 21/02.
Several major categories of verification requirements were completed and
test summary reports are in process. Several issues occurred with the
flight software, some of which were resolved, but one major one remains
involving the interface of the National Instruments DAQ/PAD to the Microgravity
Laptop Computer (MLC), which is in work. Remaining test operations must
be completed to deliver SUBSA and PFMI on-dock at KSC 02/03/02 for testing
prior to launch on Utilization Flight 2.

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 20, 2002 MRT Telecon, 10am-2pm CST

March 18-22, 2002, 2002 American Physical Society March Meeting, Indianapolis,
IN

March 20-22, 2002 MRT Face-to-Face Meeting at the Johnson Space
Center, Houston, TX

April 20-23, 2002, 2002 American Physical Society April Meeting, Albuquerque,
NM

April 22-25 2002, 2002 Applied Computational Research Society
Joint Meeting: Computational Micro And Nano Technology, International
Conference on Computational Nano Science Modeling & Simulation of
Microsystems, San Juan Marriott Resort, San Juan, Puerto Rico, http://www.cr.org

May 9-11, 2002, Fundamental Physics Investigator Workshop, Laguna Cliffs
Marriott Resort, Dana Point, CA