Remotely Controlled Mixers for LMM Colloid Samples, Phase II

The proposed C-SPECS devices offer important new technologies needed for on-orbit analysis, as well as the chance to leverage existing ISS facilities for new scientific payloads. This is expected to lead to many new potential NASA commercial applications and opportunities. In particular, Techshot expects to commercialize C-SPECS by incorporating them into the company's spaceflight service program that it offers to NASA mission programs, as well as to other government agencies. By further automating the experiment process, C-SPECS allows more colloid samples to be processed more quickly, while minimizing the need for crew time. This high-throughput capability afforded by C-SPECS can lead to far more efficient and productive use of the LMM, which will help NASA more fully realize its vision for the ISS as a national laboratory. Techshot serves as an Implementation Partner to NASA and CASIS for enabling space flight experimentation on ISS. Building on its heritage of developing and integrating space flight hardware, as well as conducting scientific research in space, Techshot offers flight experiment services to non-NASA customers, such as researchers from universities and the private sector. Techshot's successful experience with microgravity processing facilities such as the Avian Development Facility and the ADvanced Space Experiment Processor positions the company as a leader in offering these unique services. Soon, the LMM-DS when coupled with the innovative capabilities of C-SPECS is expected to give Techshot an even greater competitive advantage in attracting commercial research customers. Furthermore, with the ability of commercial launch vehicles (e.g. SpaceX, Orbital, Boeing) to get more experiment samples into orbit, once these vehicles begin routine visits to the ISS, the economics of transporting and processing materials in microgravity should become far more compelling. Eventually, given sufficient economical commercial launch vehicle transporting capacity, when coupled with Techshot's cadre of space processing equipment, C-SPECS could become an important element for processing larger quantities of high-value materials for non-NASA commercial customers in the unique environment of space. More »