The Axiom Mission 4 was launched from Kennedy Space Center on 25 June at 9:31, delivering volcanic algae to the International Space Station (ISS) for an experiment for which key electronic components were developed at Tartu Observatory.
The Space Volcanic Algae project, led by the Polish company Extremo Technologies, aims to test algae cultivation in the space station and investigate their potential to produce oxygen for astronauts during future space missions. Tartu Observatory developed the onboard computer, power systems, oxygen sensors, and control software for the experiment. The observatory also supports the remote control of the experiment and will be involved in data analysis. The project team includes Associate Professor in Space Technology Mihkel Pajusalu, Junior Research Fellow in Space Technology Laila Kaasik, Technician Mathias Plans, and Mattias Avi, MSc in Computer Science.
“„This is the first instrument developed by our Space Exploration Group to be sent to the International Space Station and our first biology experiment in space. In the coming years, three more similar experiments are planned. It marks the beginning of a new direction for our group – space biotechnology,” said Mihkel Pajusalu, Head of the Department of Space Technology at Tartu Observatory.
The algae experiment is part of the Polish Space Agency’s (POLSA) Ignis mission, under which the Polish project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski travels to the ISS. He will carry out 18 scientific experiments during the mission, including the Space Volcanic Algae experiment. The project is funded by POLSA and coordinated by the European Space Agency (ESA).
The astronauts and cargo were launched into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, produced by the US company SpaceX and commissioned by Axiom Space. The Crew Dragon 2 capsule carries, in addition to Uznański-Wiśniewski, mission commander Peggy Whitson (USA), pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), and mission specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary).
Tartu Observatory is the University of Tartu’s space research centre, and a recognised partner in many international space technology research and development projects.
This article was first published on 25 June by University of Tartu.
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