Mission type | Astrobiology, space medicine |
---|---|
Operator | NASA |
COSPAR ID | 2022-156F |
SATCAT no. | 55906 |
Mission duration | 18 months (planned) 23 months (in progress) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | BioSentinel |
Spacecraft type | CubeSat |
Bus | 6U CubeSat |
Manufacturer | NASA / Ames Research Center |
Launch mass | 14 kg (31 lb) [1] |
Dimensions | 10 cm × 20 cm × 30 cm |
Power | 30 watts (solar panels) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 16 November 2022, 06:47:44 UTC[2] |
Rocket | SLS Block 1 |
Launch site | KSC, LC-39B |
Contractor | NASA |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Heliocentric orbit |
Transponders | |
Band | X-band |
BioSentinel is a lowcost CubeSat spacecraft on a astrobiology mission that will use budding yeast to detect, measure, and compare the impact of deep space radiation on DNA repair over long time beyond low Earth orbit.[1][3]
Selected in 2013 for a 2022 launch, the spacecraft will operate in the deep space radiation environment throughout its 18-month mission.[4] This will help scientists understand the health threat from cosmic rays and deep space environment on living organisms and reduce the risk associated with long-term human exploration, as NASA plans to send humans farther into space than ever before.[3][4] The spacecraft was launched on 16 November 2022 as part of the Artemis 1 mission.[2] In August 2023, NASA extended BioSentinel's mission into November 2024.[5]
The mission was developed by NASA Ames Research Center.