COMMERCIAL GENERIC BIOPROCESSING APPARATUS SCIENCE INSERT-02: SILICATE GARDEN, SEED
GERMINATION, PLANT CELL CULTURE AND YEAST (CSI-02), FOUR INVESTIGATIONS
Research Area: Classroom Versions of ISS Investigations
Expedition(s): 15- 18
Principal Investigator(s): ● Louis S. Stodieck, PhD, University of Colorado, BioServe Space
Technologies, Boulder, Colorado
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus
Science Insert - 02 (CSI-02) is an educational payload
designed to interest middle school students in
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
by participating in near real-time research conducted
aboard the ISS. Students observe 4 experiments
through data and imagery downlinked and
distributed directly into the classroom via the
Internet. The first experiment examines seed
germination and plant development in microgravity.
The second experiment examines yeast cells
adaptation to the space environment. The third
experiment examines plant cell cultures and the
fourth is a silicate garden. The experiments
conducted for CSI-02 are designed primarily to meet
education objectives; however, to the maximum
extent possible, meaningful scientific research is
conducted to generate new knowledge into gravity-
dependent biological processes and to support
future plans for human space exploration. CSI-02 has
the potential to impact over 15,000 middle school
and high school students.
EARTH BENEFITS
CSI-02 provides a unique educational opportunity to encourage students to pursue careers in
the scientific and technical fields. Approximately 15,000 students conduct ground controls and
observe these experiments while aboard the ISS, influencing these students to further their
education in STEM fields.
SPACE BENEFITS
This influences children to continue their education in STEM areas and pursue related careers.
It promotes education of the next generation of scientists, engineers, and crew members for
the space program. In addition, scientific research with the experiments is expected to provide
a greater understanding of the effects of spaceflight on different biological systems, which
could support future plans for the human exploration of the solar system.
The above image shows the nickel sulfate silicate
garden grown duriThe above image shows the
nickel sulfate silicate garden grown during
Expedition 17. BioServe Space Technologies
image, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado.