A Typical Day, No Holes in the Canister

A Typical Day

Every morning, I check the experiments in our laboratory to observe overnight measurements. We have computer logging of the most important parameters for plant growth, such as lighting, temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide levels. Next, I measure and replenish nutrient solution components.

I also often have a meeting with my colleagues in the morning. There, we discuss highlights, successes, and problems of the current experiments, and we schedule and discuss matters and upcoming experiments. I spend a large part of the day analyzing collected data from the experiments. I also have to write up experimental summaries and scientific papers for peer-reviewed scientific papers. Also, I have to prepare for scientific meetings, or a seminar here at KSC, detailing some of the developments of our experiments.

We also spend time with outreach activities, whether it's a tour or somebody else we need to tell about our experiment. I would say that's a full day already. But the main things are: making sure the experiments are running well; attending the meetings to determine what the experiments are or the status of the present experiments; analyzing the data; writing the data for a journal or a public seminar; and the educational outreach activities for students, science fairs, or tour groups.

No Holes in the Canister

We had an in-flight experiment on the shuttle recently, in which the specimens were flown in a sealed "canister." The first experiment did not have holes in the canister, or any way for oxygen to get into the canister, yet there were live specimens within. I had remembered that as a kid, that any time we would go out and catch a firefly or bugs, we were always sure to punch holes in the glass jar lids, or whatever we caught them in to make sure they received oxygen.

The specimens in the experiment did not develop normally because there may have been very little active gas exchange occurring. When I heard about the problem with the experiment, I suggested putting several "holes" in the canister. It turned out that not having the holes in the container the first time was most likely the problem. The experiment turned out to be a complete success after the experiment was re-flown.