ISS Commercial Research Update November 22, 2002

The STS-113/11A launch has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 23.

Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA) – The experiment’s health and status data is nominal. CGBA is scheduled to return on STS-114 (ULF1).

Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (PGBA) – The experiment’s health and status data is nominal. Downlinked images of Arabidopsis thaliana plants indicate that the plants have not grown as fast as expected. The science team decided to let the plants continue growing and harvest them after they are returned to Earth. The focus of this commercial experiment is to better understand the role of gravity on lignin – a plant substance that affects the strength of plant stalks and stems. PGBA is scheduled to return on STS-113.

Zeolite Crystal Growth (ZCG) – Operations were successfully completed. The processed autoclaves were removed and stowed, which are scheduled to return on STS-113. ZCG operations for Increment 6 will be performed inside ziplock bags.