In the last ten years, space organisations globally, along with new market players, have made it easier to access space for scientific and technological research. This movement towards making space more accessible has attracted a broader spectrum of scientists who were previously unaware of the possibilities for conducting experiments in space. This growing group includes experts from various fields such as biology, physiology, pharmaceutical chemistry, fluid physics, soft matter, and thermodynamics, although this list is far from complete.
However, many researchers from this broadened community may not completely grasp the intricate requirements for setting up and carrying out space experiments. CRESTLAB has been established to provide an extensive research platform to assist both academic and industrial sectors in designing, preparing, and performing benchmark experiments on Earth, which can then be modified for different space environments—whether it be in microgravity, lunar or Martian gravity, or hyper gravity.
CRESTLAB is structured around four specialized laboratories—Life Sciences, Material Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Data Science—along with two technical workshops. These facilities boast advanced instruments and support services that cover all phases of space experiment planning, from the initial engineering design and breadboard construction to early testing and data analysis.
Along with the technical support offered by our experts at CREST, here is a list of some major equipment available at CRESTLAB to help design space experiments:
Equipment
Brand: Thermo Scientific
Description: The Midi 40 CO₂ incubator is designed specifically for people who require a compact culturing workspace to handle small workloads.
The design features a heated inner glass door which prevents condensation, a non-porous silicon gasket maintains the chamber integrity. Units have a weldless stainless steel chamber for easy cleaning. This unit can be stacked because of its reinforced cabinet. The advanced IntrLogic™ II microprocessor has a bright digital display and intuitive touch pad for simplified entry of temperature, CO₂ and alarm data, with keyed set point switch to prevent unauthorised changes to the operating parameters. Unit has audible and visual alarm functions, precise and reliable CO₂ control featuring an accurate thermal conductivity sensor.
Brand: HOBERSAL
Description: HOBERSAL Furnaces For Metal and Ceramic 3d Printing Processes and Additive Manufacturing. Ceramic and metal Sintering, Annealing, debinding, fusing, curing. Works under vacuum and controlled atmosphere to ensure the sintered part is not contaminated by oxygen.
Applications:
Metals sintering: Debinding, sintering, stress-relieving, solution annealing and hardening
Ceramics, Glass, Composites, Sand sintering: Debinding, sintering, drying and curing
Plastics sintering: Curing, tempering, drying
Temperatures 1.150 ºC
Characteristics:
- Electronic-valve equipment to control gas atmosphere or/and vacuum.
- Eurotherm programmable controller equipment (10 programs/25 segments) with alarm (Over-heating Protection)
- Eurotherm programmable controller EPC Series and data logger software
- This system enables complete automatic electronic programming and controlling of the furnace chamber’s atmosphere, with automatic gas introduction, replacement and/or extraction.
Brand: RAISE3D
Description: Competitive and scalable; the Pro2 3D printer improves upon it’s award winning predecessor and provides the next generation of performance.
Characteristics:
- Electronic Driven, Dual Extrusion with Retracting Hot Ends; 4× Increased torque performance
- Massive Build Volume (12×12×11.8 inch / 305×305×300 mm)
- mm Layer Height
- Camera / HEPA Air Filtration
- Diverse Filament Compatibility (Up to 300℃)
- 32 Bit Motion Control Board
- 7-inch Touch Screen
- Resume Print after Power Loss or Filament Outage
- Wireless Compatibility
Brand: REGEMAT
Description: Microextrusion 3D bio-printer with included hot plate (temperature range -30°C to 250°C), and hot syringe (from 0°C to 50°C). UV light (365nm wavelength) pointer can be added to the printer for the UV crosslink of the bioink
Brand: ZIRBUS
Description: A modular system makes the laboratory freeze dryer perfectly suitable for a wide range of laboratory tasks. The housing is made of robust stainless steel. Different modules can be used with the basic unit, depending on the application. Environmentally friendly natural refrigerants are used.
Brand: TELSTAR
Description: FREEZE DRYER with condenser -85°C and 8 manifolds. Used to sublimate water to create aerogels and porous scaffolds
Brand: HERRICK PLASMA
Description: Oxygen plasma treatment to develop hydrophilic surface
Brand: VWR
Description: Drying ovens with forced air circulation, which are ideal for routine drying and heating applications when short drying times are required. Ovens feature adjustable ventilation by means of manually adjustable ventilation slide and 50 mm Ø exhaust duct at the rear of the unit.
Main characteristics:
- Microprocessor controller
- Integrated timer can be set for continuous mode or timer operation: 0 to 999 min or 0 to 99,9 h
- Over-temperature protection with visual alarm (Class 3.1 safety device)
- Temperature setting in increments of 1 °C
Brand: Reynier
Description: Horizontal Flow. UV Light HEROLAB NU-15 -254nm-365nm for sterylization process
Brand: HERAEUS
Description: Vacuum oven or vacuum drying cabinet from Heraeus, type VT 5042 EK. The oven door contains a vision window which can be used to check the laboratory samples and/or to read the internal temperature. Vacuum is applied by means of an external pump.
Nominal temperature: +250ºC
Capacity: 50 liters
Internal dimensions (W) x (D) x (H): 41 x 36,5 x 34 cm
Brand: SIGMA
Description: Centrifuge for 1mL Eppendorf with temperature control. Temperature range from -10°C to 40°C
