Space Qualified Hardware

The MDA Minilab is an automated space processing laboratory commercially developed by ITA which is capable of mixing up to 100 separate samples of any two or three fluids or solids at precisely timed intervals. The Automated Laboratory is a multi-user, generic mixing device which can support multi-disciplinary technologies.

The unit operates on the following principle: two blocks of inert polymer material each with test well cavities in the upper and lower blocks are held together in an aircraft aluminum housing. The experiment wells containing the flight samples are mis-alligned prior to launch, thus separating the fluids to be mixed. At the appropriate time in microgravity, a command is given by the automated controller to move the blocks into allignment, allowing the fluids to mix by liquid to liquid diffusion.

Typically, our MDA units, producing a total of 400 data points, fly in a Shuttle Mid-deck locker or in a Refigerator.or Incubator module that produces a controlled temperature environment. The MDA has been flight qualified to two levels of containment and has flown on eight Shuttle flights, five sounding rockets, and the KC-135 aircraft. Microgravity experiments that have been conducted with the MDA Minilab are: Protein crystal growth, cell biology, collagen assembly, fluid sciences, thin film membrane casting, microencapsulation of drugs, and others.

STS-69 crewmember activating CTA's MDA Minilab in orbit

Carrier: Standard Shuttle Middeck locker or Commercial Refregerator./Incubator module (CRIM)

Number of Units/data samples: 4 MDA's / 400 data points

Temperature Control: 6 degrees C and 20 degrees C or 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C

Dimensions: 25.4 cm wide, 16.8 cm high, 40.6 cm deep (no temperature control)

Replaces Shuttle Mid-deck locker (with temperature control)

Volume: 16.5 cu litres, or 0.610 cubic feet (with temperature control)

Replaces Shuttle Mid-deck locker (with CRIM temperature control)

Weight: 18.2 kg (no temp control), 31.8 kg (with temp control)

Power: 3 watts (no temp control), 110 watts (with temp control)

Flight History:

Shuttle Flights: STS-37, 43, 52, 56, 67, and 69, Flown as BIMDA 1/2 and CMIX-1 through 4

Sounding Rockets: Consort 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

KC-135 aircraft: 2 missions

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