Standard of Excellence: The Human Touch in an Automated World
The Government Circuit: Navigating New Trade Headwinds and New Partnerships
Global Sourcing Spotlight: How to Evaluate Supplier Capabilities Worldwide
First Deep Space Biology Experiment Begins, Follow Along in Real-Time
December 16, 2022 | NASAEstimated reading time: 1 minute
NASA’s BioSentinel has carried living organisms farther from Earth than ever before – more than one million miles. Aboard the shoebox-sized CubeSat are microorganisms, in the form of yeast – the very same yeast that makes bread rise and beer brew. On Dec. 5, BioSentinel was 655,730 miles from Earth when the BioSentinel team at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley sent commands to the spacecraft to kick off the initial experiment for the first long-duration biology study in deep space. Scientists are now able to see how living organisms respond to deep space radiation.
Artemis missions at the Moon will prepare humans to travel on increasingly farther and longer-duration missions to destinations like Mars. Because yeast cells have similar biological mechanisms to human cells, including DNA damage and repair, studying yeast in space will help us better understand the risks of space radiation to humans and other biological organisms. BioSentinel’s science results will fill critical gaps in knowledge about the health risks in deep space posed by space radiation.
BioSentinel – which launched aboard Artemis I – is orbiting the Sun, positioned beyond Earth’s protective magnetic field. There, the CubeSat will run a series of experiments over the next five to six months.
NASA invites the public to virtually ride along with BioSentinel’s deep space journey using NASA’s “Eyes on the Solar System” visualization tool, a digital model of the solar system. This real-time simulated view of our solar system runs on real data. The positions of the planets, moons, and spacecraft – including BioSentinel – are shown where they are right now.
You can adjust the level of illumination on the spacecraft by clicking on the show/hide settings button in the bottom right of the screen. Once opened, you can toggle between flood, shadow, and natural lighting. Additionally, you can use time controls – at the bottom of the screen – to fast-forward or rewind time in the simulated view, to preview BioSentinel’s future trajectory or see a recap of its prior path.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
BAE Systems Delivers 1,000th THAAD Seeker for Ballistic Missile Defense Program
09/01/2025 | BAE SystemsBAE Systems recently delivered its 1,000th infrared seeker to Lockheed Martin for integration on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor missile, achieving a major production milestone.
Planette Selected by NASA to Develop the First Quantum-Inspired AI System for Extreme Weather Prediction
08/26/2025 | BUSINESS WIREExtreme weather is on the rise, but even state-of-the-art forecasting technologies struggle to provide accurate, timely predictions for extremes like heavy rainfall, heatwaves, and thunderstorms.
L3Harris Begins Sensor System Manufacturing in Poland
08/26/2025 | L3Harris TechnologiesL3Harris Technologies has begun manufacturing electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems at a 2,000-square-meter facility in Katowice.
Gardien Services Installs Customized G93 Flying Probe Tester – Largest Test Area in North America/Europe
08/24/2025 | Gardien GroupGardien Group is proud to announce the successful installation of a customized G93 Flying Probe Test Machine at a major manufacturer in North America. This cutting-edge system features the largest test area of any flying probe tester in North America and Europe, setting a new benchmark for PCB testing capabilities.
ION Storage Systems Launches 'Cornerstone'
08/12/2025 | PRNewswireION Storage Systems, Inc. (ION), a Maryland-based leader in next-generation solid-state battery technology, announces today that it has begun shipping Cornerstone, the first commercial generation of ION's solid-state battery technology, to leading consumer electronics companies.