Biotechnological research on ISS Russian Segment
RHOSIGNAL Experiment
RHOSIGNAL 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.
Objectives:
Investigation of functional alterations of the small GTPases of the Rho family (Rho GTPases), central molecular
switches of the intracellular signaling pathways, in human fibroblasts submitted to microgravity.
Tasks:
Study of functional alterations in fibroblasts submitted to microgravity conditions by using immunomorphological procedures
Science Hardware Used:
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).

Experiment Results:
B-Container/RHOSIG with 6 plunger boxes containing cultivated human fibroblasts and ECU memory card.