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The ability to preserve specimens at cryogenic temperatures is necessary for the analysis of specimens collected for many aspects of biological research. For spaceflight experiments flown on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS), cryogenic preservation is important to avoid sample degradation before recovery. The increasing scientific demand for on-orbit cryogenic capability continues to stimulate further development of spaceflight hardware. The unique environment of a manned spacecraft presents many technical and operational challenges when designing and developing cryogenic systems. Power consumption and stowage volume are two such design limitations that illustrate the need for non-powered, passive cryogenic hardware. This paper will present an overview of passive cryogenic hardware that is currently in development by the Life Sciences Services Contract (LSSC) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

A Kennedy Space Center team is developing the Microgravity Plant Nutrient Experiment (MPNE) middeck payload to support plant growth in microgravity for the United States Space Program. The fluid system in this payload employs porous plant tubes that deliver nutrient solution actively to the plant roots and replaces the need for soil to grow plants. The component controlling nutrient solution delivery to the plant tubes is the Water Availability Sensor (WAS). This sensor measures the thin film of plant nutrient solution or potable water on plant tubes in the MPNE payload and provides the feedback logic for nutrient delivery to plants. The WAS provides a noninvasive measurement of nutrient delivery for this unique hydroponic system. Nutrient solution is added to the fluid system network as nutrients are consumed by the plants.