RNA Samples are Ready for Launch!
Last month, Genes in Space highlighted the preparation of RNA samples for the upcoming Genes in Space-11 launch. These samples (and our team) have been kept in cold storage while we waited for the go-ahead from Kennedy Space Center. Last week, Dr. Ally Huang got the call to pack and ship the RNA samples to Cape Canaveral to be loaded onto the Crew-9 vehicle. Check out the images below to see that process:
Dr. Ally Huang, Lead Research Scientist at miniPCR bio, retrieving the samples from the -70° C freezer. Science payloads like this one must be stable enough to remain viable after many months of storage to account for the scheduling changes that occur with space biology research.
The samples were packed into pre-labeled bags and kept on ice during the packing process. These labels will be important for the astronauts who are carrying out the Genes in Space experiment. The bags were then thoroughly disinfected to ensure that no microbes will be carried up to the ISS.
The sample bags were packed into larger containers and covered in dry-ice to keep them cold during their transit from Massachusetts to Florida. Sensors were placed next to the samples to indicate whether the sample temperatures remained cold throughout the journey. If these sensors were triggered, the RNA would be compromised, and new samples would need to be prepared and shipped. Luckily, the team has already received confirmation that the RNA arrived safely at Kennedy Space Center. Now all we have to do is wait for the launch!
