Summary of Operational Capabilities

The objective of the Biological Research In Canisters (BRIC-60) hardware is to provide a storage container for investigations into the effects of space flight on small specimens. The BRIC-60 canister is an anodized-aluminum cylinder with an upper and lower chamber. These chambers can be flown separately as "half" BRICs or together as "full" BRICs. There are four pressure relief vents in each chamber to meet the rapid depressurization requirements of the Space Shuttle. These vents make a series of convoluted turns in order to maintain a light-tight environment inside the canister chamber.

A maximum of twelve 60 mm petri dishes (total of 24 per "full" canister) or thirteen (13) Teflon tubes (total of 26 per "full" canister) can be placed inside each canister chamber.

The physical dimensions are 6.25 inches high x 10.25 inches outside diameter. Total weight is 1.9 lbs. No power is required.

See line drawing of BRIC-60.

Usage

The BRIC-60 has flown on the following payloads:

Mission	Payload (Experiment)
STS-68	BRIC-01
STS-68	BRIC-01
STS-63	BRIC-03
STS-70	BRIC-06
STS-80	BRIC-09
STS-85	BRIC-10
STS-93	BRIC-11
STS-95	BRIC-NASDA
STS-87	CUE (GENEX)
STS-87	CUE (SOYMET)
STS-87	CUE (SOYPAT)
STS-93	STL-B (BRIC-12)

The BRIC-60 canisters have supported a growth hormone concentration and distribution experiment. Lithium hydroxide and Purafil have been flown inside these canisters for specimens that produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and ethylene, respectively. Specimens flown in the BRIC-60 include Lycoperscion esculentum (tomato), Arabidopsis thaliana (mouse-ear cress) and Glycine max (soybean) seedlings, Physarum polycephalum (slime mold) cells, Pothetria dispar (gypsy moth) eggs and Ceratodon (moss).

Technical Details

Up to five "full" canisters can be flown at ambient Orbiter middeck conditions in a standard middeck locker. Up to five "half" BRIC canisters will fit inside the gaseous nitrogen (GN2) freezer.