Solutions
Automation		Laboratory Research Equipment
Production Equipment and Fixturing		Electronic Devices
Motion Systems		Space Hardware
Laboratory Animal Care Equipment

ADSEP

Biotechnology Facility

The ADSEP biotechnology facility contains three independent thermal zones, each accommodating one cassette, and an internal computer that controls the internal functions of all three cassettes. Cassettes can house three bioseparation methods, diffusion-cell and mixing-cell capabilities, and at least two versions of cell-culturing equipment.

ADSEP is a fully automated, multi-use single locker processing facility for interface with middeck, SPACEHAB, or International Space Station EXPRESS racks.

Modular, on-board microprocessors, video cards, and motor driver cards allow ADSEP to be configured for a variety of biotechnology and life science experiments.

Payload Specialist John Glenn worked with Techshot’s ADSEP hardware on orbit aboard space shuttle Discovery on STS-95

Space Experiment Cassettes

There currently are several applications using the unique Techshot ADSEP system:

Cell Dynamics
1. Cell Culturing (CellCult)
2. Dynamic Culturing (DynaCult)

Pharmaceutical Development
3. Microencapsulation
4. Protein Crystal Growth

Separations
5. Biphasic Separation (BISEP)
6. Magnetic Separation (MAGSEP)
7. Electrophoretic Separation (ELECSEP)

Fluid Processing
8. C-elegans studies
9. Bacteria studies

Payload Specialist John Glenn worked with Techshot’s ADSEP hardware on orbit aboard space shuttle Discovery on STS-95

Three independent processing modules can either be programmed for totally automated operation or controlled via telemetry for real-time telescience and telerobotic operation. · Processing temperature can be independently monitored and controlled between 4 ° - 40°C in each of three modules.
Accommodates up to three cassettes, each capable of processing biological samples in space.
From half-stepped mode, ADSEP is capable of conducting up to 44 separate experiments in each cassette assembly.
Biological samples are loaded (preflight) into cassettes that provide appropriate levels of containment.
Processing module doors are opened with two thumb screws, allowing cassettes to be installed in, and removed from, each processing module on orbit.
Cassette interfaces with the processing module through blind-mating power/data connector on back side of cassette.

Services

Techshot serves the customer for the complete mission cycle of each cassette that is to be flown on an orbital flight. This covers the following elements:

Providing a hardware prototype to the investigator's laboratory approximately 11 months before launch, on loan for up to two months (or to the point of satisfactory operation).
Providing flight or flight-equivalent hardware to the investigator's laboratory approximately six months before launch, on loan for up to two months (or to the point of satisfactory operation).
Performing all paperwork and meeting milestones to qualify the experiment for flight technically: meeting safety/containment requirements and attending all reviews.
Working with the investigator(s) at the launch site to build up the payload and arranging hand over (usually late-loading) to launch officials.
Monitoring the payload during the flight, using Techshot's data downlink and command uplink capabilities when these are consistent with the spacecraft's communication system.
Collecting and returning the payload during post-landing recovery operations.
Modifying the existing hardware or building new hardware to fit the experimenter's needs.

ADSEP cassette