Microgravity

In an orbit around Earth, astronauts hardly experience gravity. An astronaut, shuttle or satellite is always ‘pulled’ down by gravity but since they move with high velocity around Earth, they remain in a free-fall around our planet. The result is that they experience almost no gravity, often referred to as ‘micro-gravity’ or ‘hypo-gravity’. Other common terms are weightlessness and zero gravity.

Partial Gravity

The RPM 2.0 also simulates ‘partial gravity’. This provides all gravity levels from 0g up to 0.9g. Partial gravity is achieved by changing the random motion pattern in such a way that on average the sample experiences some influence of Earth’s gravity. It is used for simulating the reduced gravity of Mars, Moon, Titan, Europa, etc. It is also used for determining e.g. the gravity level at which organisms or cells change behavior.

Features

• Provides micro- and partial gravity simulations between 0g and 0.9g for scientific, educational and industrial applications.
• Compact design to support experiments in radiation and incubator facilities (temperature, CO2, humidity environments).
• Includes software for controlling and monitoring multiple parameters, such as the average gravity level.
• Unique and proven path algorithms with protection against so-called pole bias.
• Option to power an experiment system on the experiment platform, allowing for instance illumination, monitoring, perfusion, activation/fixation observation etc.
• Multiple motion modes supported, including: partial-g, random speeds, clinostat and more.

RPM Availability

The RPM can be purchased or rented from Airbus Netherlands and is shipped globally. Please click on the “get in contact” button, so we can exchange further information. If desired, optional services such as on-site installation and training by our experts can be provided.

Previously, the RPM was produced by Fokker Space and later by Dutch Space. It was then denoted as the “Desktop RPM”. Nowadays the production of is done by Airbus DSNL. The instrument is called “RPM 2.0” since the addition of partial gravity.

Life Science, Cell- and Microbiology

Gravity has many important effects on cells and introducing microgravity allows new cell-, micro- and mechanobiology research. For example, microgravity leads to different intra- and inter-cell communication, changes in genetic expression, cell growth and shape, gravitropism and mechanosensitivity effects, etc.

• “The use of the random positioning machine for the study of gravitational effects on signal transduction in mammalian cells”, Daniela Grimm, Johann Bauer, Manfred Infanger, Augusto Cogoli
• “Chiral and non-chiral nutations in Arabidopsis roots grown on the random positioning machine”, S. Piconese, G. Tronelli, P. Pippia, F. Migliaccio
• “Using space-based investigations to inform cancer research on Earth”, Jeanne L. Becker & Glauco R. Souza

Astrobiology and Planetary Research

The partial gravity feature (0g – 0.9g) of the RPM 2.0 is also very useful for astrobiology research. It is used to research organisms survival, development, behaviour etc. in extra-terrestrial environments such as 0.38g Mars’ gravity and 0.17g Moon’s gravity. Furthermore, the instrument is involved in different control, pre- and post-experiments for the International Space Station (ISS). For example, microbiology is researched with the RPM since bacterial virulence and growth rate increase in low gravity environments.

• “Effects of long-term simulated microgravity on tomato seedlings”, Dongqian Xu, Shuangsheng Guo, Min Liu
• “Space Microbiology” , Gerda Horneck, David M. Klaus and Rocco L. Mancinelli
• “Stem Cells toward the Future: The Space Challenge”, Silvia Bradamante, Livia Barenghi and Jeanette A.M. Maier

Regenerative Medicine, Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Research

Recently published papers describe the use of RPM for regenerative medicine and 3D tissue engineering / cell culturing. For example, research has shown that microgravity can be used to reduce differentiation of stem cells.

• “In summary, it can be concluded that the formation of multicellular spheroids is occurring in thyroid cancer cells as well as in normal cells, a finding, which shows that simulated microgravity is a usable approach for engineering functional tissue. These functional tissues might be used in the future for pharmacological testing or co-culture experiments to investigate neoangiogenesis inhibitors, yielding a more accurate picture than mouse or rat models.”
  “Mechanisms of three-dimensional growth of thyroid cells during long-term simulated microgravity”, Sascha Kopp, Elisabeth Warnke, Markus Wehland, Ganna Aleshcheva, Nils E. Magnusson, Ruth Hemmersbach, Thomas Juhl Corydon, Johann Bauer, Manfred Infanger & Daniela Grimm
• “Tissue Engineering of Cartilage on the Random Positioning Machine” , Ganna Aleshcheva
• “Growing tissues in microgravity”, Brian R. Unsworth & Peter I. Lelkes
• “Microgravity Reduces the Differentiation and Regenerative Potential of Embryonic Stem Cells”, Elizabeth A. Blaber, Hayley Finkelstein, Natalya Dvorochkin, Kevin Y Sato, Rukhsana Yousuf, Brendan P. Burns, Ruth K. Globus, Eduardo Almeida

RPM Technology, History and Usage

The RPM technology, history and comparisons to real microgravity are described in the following papers:

• “Technology and Developments for the Random Positioning Machine, RPM”, A. G. Borst, Jack J. W. A. van Loon
• “Some history and use of the Random Positioning Machine, RPM, in gravity related research” , Jack J.W.A. van Loon
• “Plastid position in Arabidopsis columella cells is similar in microgravity and on a random-positioning machine.” , Kraft Tristan F. B. , Jack J. W. A. van Loon, John Z. Kiss
• See for further information: ELGRA and ASGSR.

credits: NASA