PharmaSat 1

Launch data: Designation  35002 / 09028B Launch date  19 May 2009 - 23:55 UT Launch site  WI, LA-0B Launch vehicle  Minotaur-1 Mission  Government: Space Science LEO Earth orbit on May 20.17: Perigee / Apogee  430 x 465 km Eccentricity  2.57E-03 Inclination  40.47 deg Period  93.54 min

PharmaSat is pictured here fully assembled, covered in solar panels. Credit: NASA/ARC/Christopher Beasley

Description:

• PharmaSat is a 10-pound [4.5-kg] satellite loaded with yeast cells in 48 microscopic sample containers in a fully-functional miniature laboratory.

Mission details:

• PharmaSat 1 is the first mission in NASA MicroSat Free Flyer Project (four missions over five years) that is planned to develop and demonstrate autonomous nanosatellite space platforms and technologies to support multidisciplinary science investigations. The satellite comprises the 3U CubeSat configuration. PharmaSat-1 is to test and validate autonomous, in-situ bioanalytical and sample management technologies to evaluate the efficacy of an antifungal drug agent on a biological specimen.
• Designed to measure the influence of microgravity upon yeast resistance to an antifungal agent.