Initiative took the first Brazilian to the International Space Station and tested experiments developed by students and researchers in the country
The Centenary Mission turned 15 on March 29. The project that took the first Brazilian astronaut into space in 2006 was the result of a partnership between the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and the Space Agency of the Russian Federation (Roscosmos). With the agreement signed between the two countries, Brazil and Russia, the astronaut and current Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations, Marcos César Pontes, was prepared to carry out eight scientific experiments developed by Brazilian institutions, in a microgravity environment, next to the Space Station International (ISS). The Mission was named after the centenary of the first manned flight of an aircraft, the 14 Bis, by Santos Dumont, in Paris, on October 23, 1906.
Among the objectives of the Mission, it was also demonstrating to the scientific community the capacity of the Brazilian Space Program to prepare professionals to perform tests in a microgravity environment, fulfilling the safety requirements for boarding a space flight, even in the short term.
Of the eight experiments, six were developed by researchers and university students. Two others were designed by high school students from São José dos Campos (SP). The initiative aimed at stimulating youth interest in space activities.
Watch the webinar about some experiments carried out during the Centennial Mission
During the Mission, it was found that, to a greater or lesser extent, all experiments presented results that justified the project. Additionally, the preparation of these experiments for boarding a manned space flight, under strict safety standards, allowed a significant technological improvement of all involved.
As for the experiments prepared by schoolchildren, it was possible to verify the awakening, not only of the interest of a large number of students, but also the training to develop experiments.
In general, experiments in microgravity have allowed the development of scientific knowledge and technologies. The list of applications includes the development of new medicines, systems and equipment for various uses, food production techniques, as well as knowledge of the human organism and its diseases.
Know the experiments of the Centenary Mission:
Capillary evaporators – Capillary pumping systems, devices for the thermal control of satellites or space probes.
This research aimed to develop and improve the knowledge of thermal control for satellites. The principle of operation is based on the ability to move liquid by capillary pumping, as occurs on micro-scratched surfaces and porous materials, such as sponge or candle wick.
It was developed by the Combustion and Thermal Systems Engineering Laboratory of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) .
Mini heat tubes – The main function of this technology is to transport the concentrated heat in a hotter region to a colder one – usually a radiator – in order to control the temperature of a surface or equipment of interest. The objective of the project was to test, in a microgravity environment, the permanent thermal behavior of a mini heat pipe.
The microgravity test allowed to evaluate the direct application in satellites. In addition, it has been adapted for the thermal control of electronic components, such as laptops.
It was developed by the Heat Pipes Laboratory of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC).
Kinetics of lipase and invertase enzymes in microgravity – The experiment aimed to understand the phenomenon of enzymatic reactions in the organism from the point of view of kinetics, that is, the speed and dynamics in the interaction with cell walls, in microgravity.
To this end, lipase, immobilized lipase (enzymes that break down fat molecules) and invertase, which generates fructose as a product, have a higher sweetening power than sugar.
The understanding of the dynamics is applied to the food and pharmaceutical industries in the development of research to sweeten children’s syrups.
The experiment was developed by the University Center of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering (FEI)
Seed germination in microgravity – The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of microgravity in the presence and partial absence of light on the initial stages of seed germination, on pigment synthesis and on gene expression (DNA sequences).
For this, seeds of Astronium fraxinifolium , a tree species from the Cerrado , were used .
The results of the experiment expanded the knowledge about this native Brazilian species and helped to improve techniques for environmental preservation and sustainable use of national resources.
The project was developed by the Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Unit (Cenargen), of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).
Protein interaction clouds – This experiment evaluated bioluminescence and chemiluminescence resulting from the interaction of clouds of water droplets in a microgravity environment.
The result of this analysis made it possible, among other benefits, to improve techniques for obtaining faster-acting drugs. Another advantage was the identification of disease-causing microorganisms in water supply reservoirs.
The project was prepared by the Renato Archer Research Center (CenPRA).
DNA damage and repairs in microgravity – The research investigated the influence of radiation on the activities inside the cells in microgravity. For that, we used the bacteria model under the effects of cosmic radiation and UVA.
The research focused on the effects on the DNA of bacteria and on the ability to correct lesions in the genetic code and was conducted by the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).
Bean seed germination – The experiment evaluated the effects of water, light and microgravity conditions on bean seed germination.
For this, it was carried out simultaneously at the ISS and in four Municipal Schools of São José dos Campos (SP). In general, it was observed that the initial stages of germination were not compromised by microgravity conditions.
However, it was found that the development of plant embryos was less at ISS than at schools. In orbit, there was no primary leaf emission, which may be related to the different types of stresses to which the seeds germinated on the ISS were subjected.
Chlorophyll Chromatography – The project aimed to observe the separation of the pigments from the cabbage leaf in microgravity. For this, we used the technique known as chromatography, which separates and identifies the substances in a sample.
During the experiment, images were taken, on the ground and in orbit, at zero time and every 5 minutes, within an hour. The intention was to compare the development of the two tests.
The process of separating the pigments from the cabbage leaf, both in microgravity conditions and in terrestrial conditions was similar. There were no significant differences in the positioning of the different pigments or in the duration of the test. The experiment was accompanied by students from four schools in São José dos Campos.
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About AEB
The Brazilian Space Agency, central body of the National System for the Development of Space Activities (SINDAE), is an autarchy linked to the MCTI, responsible for formulating, coordinating and executing the Brazilian Space Policy.
Since its creation, on February 10, 1994, the Agency has been working to make the Brazilian State’s efforts to promote the well-being of society via the sovereign employment of the space sector viable.