The only thing missing from the
otherwise well-appointed laboratory “B” at SHOT is a flashing “vacancy” sign
reminiscent of what once must have been a welcome sight at the shuttered
1930’s-era motel across the street. Inside the bright modern lab, engineers
and scientists are busy preparing biotechnology research equipment for a
2003 launch of space shuttle Endeavour. Although SHOT already is working
with several companies for mission STS-115, the modular design of its
hardware means that — at least for now — there’s still room at the inn.

“That’s the beauty of our cassette-based space research equipment,” said
SHOT Vice president and COO John C. Vellinger. “While there’s a
limited number of customers we can put on a given space shuttle mission, we
can fly several different experiments by inserting and replacing cassettes
in the processing facility while on orbit. It’s perfect for a company that
may not need an entire space shuttle locker.”

Known as the Advanced Separations processing facility (ADSEP) because it was
primarily used to conduct cell separations experiments on its first shuttle
mission in 1996, it is owned by SHOT and was designed and built by the
company exclusively for conducting life sciences research in space. The
facility, into which up to three cassettes at a time may be inserted, is the
size of a single shuttle middeck locker (approximately 18″ x 11″x 21″). It
can launch and land with up to three cassettes inside. Additional cassettes
can be transported to and from space in a separate storage facility. During
STS-95, Senator John Glenn performed the cassette swapping services
(detailed in his memoir) for SHOT aboard shuttle Discovery in 1998.

Each cassette is approximately the size of a lunch box. There are seven
different types of experiments that may be conducted in ADSEP cassettes and
SHOT is completing work on designs for others under three separate NASA
contracts. “Many experiments that can be done in an Earth-based chemistry
lab can be done in our cassettes,” said SHOT Chief Scientist Paul W. Todd,
Ph.D.

A participant in research experiments on more than 25 space shuttle
missions, beginning with a payload launched aboard shuttle Columbia on its
third mission in 1982, Todd believes conducting laboratory experiments in
space has several advantages over similar research carried out on the
ground.

“In space it’s possible to combine liquids or liquid-solid combinations that
would separate from each other on Earth due to their differences in
density,” said Todd. “This includes experiments, which when conducted on
Earth are disturbed by temperature gradients due to the natural convection
process that causes warm fluid to rise.”

“Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with an interest in
solidification processes, cell and tissue culturing and engineering, protein
crystallization, polymer film and filter formation, chemical separation
methods, and the behavior of phase-changing systems can benefit from space
research using the SHOT ADSEP facility,” added Todd.

ADSEP has been used on previous missions to perform experiments in cell
culture, drug microencapsulation, biochemical purification and extraction,
protein crystal growth, surface and interfacial-phenomena and colloid
dynamics.

SHOT is one of only four commercial companies in the nation with an
agreement with NASA that permits it to perform experiments aboard the space
shuttle for its own customers. “Whether the customer is NASA, a university,
or a commercial company, SHOT provides the same engineering and scientific
services before, during and after the mission,” said Vellinger.

“The continued growth of business into low Earth orbit brings the benefits
of space down to Earth,” said Mark E. Nall, manager of the Space Product
Development Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville,
Ala. “NASA encourages companies to seize this opportunity to conduct
commercial research in microgravity. Previous commercial space efforts
already have resulted in commercially-available products.”

SHOT is a research and technology company, which for nearly 14 years has
provided equipment and services to customers performing research both in
space and in ground-based laboratories. Several current contracts are with
NASA to develop life sciences research hardware for flights aboard space
shuttles and the International Space Station. Most recently the company’s
Avian Development Facility (ADF), launched aboard Endeavour in December 2001
on mission STS-108/UF-1.

For more information about SHOT space research opportunities during mission
STS-115 contact Rich Boling at 812.923.9591 x246, or via e-mail at
rboling@SHOT.com .

http://www.SHOT.com
Contact: Rich Boling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(812) 923-9591 x246
(502) 741-5730 cell