CAPE CANAVERAL SPACEPORT – The Florida Space Research Institute (FSRI) will fly a bone demineralization experiment aboard this weekend’s first commercial ZERO-G missions from the Space Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The hand-carried experiment, developed by FSRI at the state’s Space Life Sciences Lab, will serve as a pathfinder project to establish operating procedures for future KSC-based ZERO-G flights dedicated to research.
FSRI’s Macromolecule Permeability Through A Microfluidic Demineralized Bone Tissue experiment will examine the flow of extravascular nutrient fluids through demineralized bone tissue under various gravity conditions. The experiment is part of an ongoing research project led by Dr. Shaohua Xu and Kate Krasnova of FSRI, studying ways to counter the loss of bone mass among astronauts participating in long-duration space missions.
Based on the success of ZERO-G’s November 5 missions at KSC, FSRI plans to work with the NASA-sponsored Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC) and other state and national organizations to sponsor additional research projects that utilize the capabilities of ZERO-G’s G-Force One aircraft. FSRI and FSGC co-sponsor an annual Florida/NASA grant program that will include funding in 2006 for ZERO-G experiments by Florida universities.
FSRI was established by Florida’s Governor and Legislature to promote collaboration among academic institutions, industry, and federal agencies to support aerospace-related research, technology, and workforce development. FSRI co-manages the state’s SLS Lab with NASA at Kennedy Space Center.
