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MDS: support for experiments
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Mice Drawer System (MDS) is a multi-purpose
facility developed by the Italian Space
Agency to provide support for experiments
with up to six mice in conditions of microgravity.
MDS operates on board the ISS and interfaces
with the EXPRESS Racks of the US Destiny
Laboratory and the Japanese Experiment Module
(JEM). The first experiment to use MDS will
examine human bone formation and the adoption
of specific measures to prevent osteoporosis.
The MDS facility was designed to manage, according to predefined procedures, the conditions necessary to ensure the optimum health of the mice in the experiment (by supplying the correct amounts of food and water, lighting, ventilation, etc). It also offers the potential for carrying out complete technical and environmental monitoring via the capture and real-time transmission to the ground centres of temperature, humidity and other data relating to the environments in which the mice are being observed as well as video images of the mice.
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If necessary for the objectives of the scientific experiment, changes may also be made to the facility’s programmed procedures or operating parameters (temperature, humidity, lighting etc.) by executing asynchronous telecommands sent by the control team at the ground segment, which the facility is set up to accept.
The ground infrastructure required to achieve this was built by Telespazio, which also provided all the instruments necessary for the experimental monitoring and remote control required by MDS while on board the ISS.
The MDS ground segment architecture comprises:
MDS-User Support Operations Centre (MDS-USOC) at Telespazio’s Naples site, which is set up to enable NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Centre (MSFC) to receive the MDS experimental video images and telemetry data (“health and status” and “housekeeping”). This data is processed and forwarded to the UHB of the PI at Genoa University.
The MDS-User Home Base (MDS-UHB) at the PI’s premises at Genoa University, which ensures the availability of scientific resources for the experiment.
The MDS-Payload Support Centre at the Payload Developer (PD) to provide technical support for the payload.
MDS Ground Segment
The MDS-USOC’s main functions are as follows:
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to provide support to MDS activities operated by the crew on board the ISS
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to receive telemetry data (“health & status”, “housekeeping” and experimental video images) from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Centre (MSFC) in real time
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to send telecommands to MSFC for subsequent upload to the MDS on board the ISS
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to view telemetry data and video images to check that the data has been correctly received
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to process telemetry data in real time in accordance with the standards required by the investigator
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to receive ISS ancillary data from NASA and distribute processed and ancillary telemetry data in real time to the investigator’s home base (MDS-UHB)
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to manage non-real-time ancillary and telemetry data (“health & status”, “housekeeping” and experimental video images) using streaming and/or FTP
All activities at the MDS-USOC are carried out by specialist personnel using dedicated systems and tools in the control room.
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