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Integrated Assessment of Long-term Cosmic Radiation Through Biological Responses of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori, in Space (RadSilk)
04.26.13

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Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview

This content was provided by Toshiharu Furusawa, Ph.D., and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Information provided courtesy of the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Brief Summary

Integrated Assessment of Long-term Cosmic Radiation Through Biological Responses of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori, in Space (RadSilk) examines the effects of radiation exposure in microgravity on silkworms.

Principal Investigator(s)

  • Toshiharu Furusawa, Ph.D., Kyoto Institute of Technology University, Kyoto, Japan

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

  • Noriaki Ishioka, Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency, Tsukuba City, Japan

    • Developer(s)

    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, , Japan

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

    Sponsoring Organization

    Information Pending

    Research Benefits

    Information Pending

    ISS Expedition Duration

    October 2009 - March 2010

    Expeditions Assigned

    21/22

    Previous ISS Missions

    The silkworm eggs were investigated by the PI in STS-84

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    Experiment Description

    Research Overview

    • The eggs of the silkworm (Bombyx mori) are used as an indicator for monitoring biological responses to long-term cosmic radiation in microgravity.

    Description

    Eggs of silkworm Bombyx mori on the Earth in the customized egg cases. After the launch at 5 degrees C, the eggs are kept cooled in MELFI at 2 degrees C for diapause. A day before recovery STS docking, eggs are incubated using CBEF at 20 degrees C for 8 days, then stored in MELFI at +2 degrees C and -95 degrees C, then recovered at +5 degrees C and at -20 degrees C. One control egg case are kept at 2 degrees C without incubation. After recovery, eggs are germinated and analyzed for radiation effects with mutation assay, genetic assay and biochemical assays.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Information Pending

    Earth Applications

    Radiation effects are critical for biological creatures. The data collected during this investigation may lead a greater understanding of how the radiation defense system is affected by different factors from space radiation and microgravity environment. This data could potentially be used to help develop new treatments and preventative measures for radiation effects.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    Information Pending

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Related Websites
  • The information on this web page was duplicated from information provided by JAXA. Please visit the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo Experiments to learn more about this payload and others.

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    Imagery

    image Bombyx mori, silkworms to be used in the RadSilk investigation.
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    image ISS021E028099 - Expedition 21 Commander (CDR) Frank De Winne works on the RadSilk (Integrated Assessment of Long-term Cosmic Radiation Through Biological Responses of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori, in Space) experiment in the JEM (Japanese Experiment Module)
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    Information provided by the investigation team to the ISS Program Scientist's Office.
    If updates are needed to the summary please contact JSC-ISS-Program-Science-Group. For other general questions regarding space station research and technology, please feel free to call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail at JSC-ISS-Research-Helpline.
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