RAMIROS experiment is a part of the science research activities to be performed aboard the ISS RS by Frank de Winne, ESA astronaut of Belgian nationality in the frame of the ODISSEA Project. The European Space Agency and Belgian Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs (OSTC) are customers of the preparation and implementation of the scientific program.

USED SCIENCE HARDWARE:

Aquarius-B hardware including:

• Container for Transport / Ascent (CTA-B)
  AQUARIUS-B Incubator/VITAMIN D with a set (5) plunger boxes containing mouse osteoblastic cells and combined in a single container.

• Container for Transport / Return (CTR-B)
  Passive container required for return of a set of B-containers with cells to the ground.
  
• Electronics Control Unit (ECU).

PURPOSE:

Analysis of the biological effects of heavy particle (HZE) radiation on primary mammalian tissue in space, in order to understand how single cells and their environment deal with HZE impact, with a contribution to radiation safety guidelines for human space activities in mind.

OBJECTIVE:

Detection and study of occurrence of different DNA lesions (hallmarks of cancer and ageing) in space flight

EXPERIMENT RESULTS:

B-Container/RAMIRIS with 5 plunger boxes containing cultivated human fibroblasts and ECU memory card.