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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Baton Rouge, Louisiana » Honey Bee Lab » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #379439
Research Project: Using Genetics to Improve the Breeding and Health of Honey Bees

Location: Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research

Title: A rapid fabrication methodology for payload modules, piloted for the observation of queen honeybee (Apis mellifera) in microgravity

Author
item SMITH, RACHEL - Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
item KRAEMER, FELIX - Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
item BADER, CHRISTOPH - Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
item SMITH, MIANA - Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
item WEBER, AARON - Urban Beekeeping Laboratory And Bee Sanctuary, Inc
item Simone-Finstrom, Michael
item WILSON-RICH, NOAH - Urban Beekeeping Laboratory And Bee Sanctuary, Inc
item OXMAN, NERI - Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

Submitted to: Gravitational and Space Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/2021
Publication Date: 5/31/2021
Citation: Smith, R., Kraemer, F., Bader, C., Smith, M., Weber, A., Simone-Finstrom, M., Wilson-Rich, N., Oxman, N. 2021. A rapid fabrication methodology for payload modules, piloted for the observation of queen honeybee (Apis mellifera) in microgravity. Gravitational and Space Research. 9:104-114. https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2021-0008.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2021-0008

Interpretive Summary: Microgravity experiment containers (modules) for living organisms have been instrumental to space research, yet their design remains complex and costly. As the private space sector enables more widely available opportunities for researchers, it is increasingly necessary to innovate the design of experimental modules for research use. We developed a rapid fabrication methodology for producing custom modules compatible with commercial payload slots. To test this method, we applied our technique to create an autonomous, video-enabled module for sensing and observing queen and retinue bees aboard the Blue Origin NS-11 suborbital flight. Results used high-definition visual data enabled by the module’s compact build to analyze queen-worker regulation under microgravity stress. Overall, this method for constructing experimental modules provides broader accessibility to space research and new data on honeybee behavior in microgravity.

Technical Abstract: Microgravity experiment modules for living organisms have been instrumental to space research, yet their design remains complex and costly. As the private space sector enables more widely available payloads for researchers, it is increasingly necessary to innovate the design of experimental modules to be proportionately accessible. To ease this bottleneck, we developed a rapid fabrication methodology for producing custom modules compatible with commercial payload slots. We present a method to generate modules based on experimental layouts, in which a unified geometry for component housing is fabricated in a digital design and subtractive manufacturing process from a single, lightweight foam material. This module design demonstrated a 25-50% chassis weight reduction compared to existing models, and is extremely competitive in manufacturing time, simplicity, and cost. To demonstrate the ability to capture data on previously limited areas of space biology, we apply this methodology to create an autonomous, video-enabled module for sensing and observing queen and retinue bees aboard the Blue Origin NS-11 suborbital flight. Results used high-definition visual data enabled by the module’s compact build to analyze queen-worker regulation under microgravity stress (n=2, with controls). Overall, this generalizable method for constructing experimental modules provides broader accessibility to space research and new data on honeybee behavior in microgravity.