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Payloads
TROPI-2 (STS-130)
Analysis of a Novel Sensory Mechanism in Root Phototropism
Principal Investigator: John Z. Kiss, Ph.D., Department of Botany, Miami University, Oxford, OH
Payload Developer: NASA Ames Research Center
Payload Overview
The TROPI2 Payload is a continuation of the TROPI-1 experiment performed on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2006. The TROPI2 experiment has the same science objectives and experiment operations and uses the same ARC built hardware as the TROPI-1 experiment. TROPI-1 was the first experiment to be performed on the European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) in collaboration with the European Space Agency. During the experiment runs, problems were encountered with image capture of the live seedlings. In addition, the biological integrity of the frozen samples was compromised during sample transfer operations between freezers on orbit.
 Ames TROPI 2 Project Team
Due to these problems, neither video nor RNA data from fractional g levels was obtained. These software and operation problems have been corrected. TROPI2 will provide an opportunity to collect video and RNA data from two experiment runs at four g levels, particularly the fractional g levels missed in the original experiment. Fractional gravity studies are relevant to the NASA exploration initiatives since they will cover the gravity levels on the Moon and Mars. The TROPI2 experiment is scheduled for launch on STS-130, 20A, and will be performed during ISS Increment 22-23, and returned on STS-131, 19A.
Payload Team
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| Principal Investigator |
Dr. John Z. Kiss, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio |
| Project Manager |
Mr. Kenny Vassigh, NASA, ARC |
| Deputy Project Manager |
Dr. Marianne Steele, Lockheed Martin, ARC |
| Project Scientist |
Dr. Robert Bowman, Lockheed Martin, ARC |
| Project Engineer |
Mr. Tom Luzod, NASA, ARC |
| Operations Lead |
Dr. David Heathcote, Lockheed Martin, ARC |
| Quality Assurance |
Mr. Robert Burney, NASA, ARC |
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