Date of Award
5-2021
Embargo Period
6-16-2021
Access Type
Thesis - Open Access
Degree Name
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Committee Chair
Eduardo Divo, Ph.D.
First Committee Member
Hugo Castillo, Ph.D.
Second Committee Member
Karen F. Gaines, Ph.D.
Third Committee Member
Fardin Khalili, Ph.D.
Abstract
Understanding the impacts of microgravity on bacteria is vital for successful long duration space missions. In this environment, bacteria have been shown to become more virulent, more resistant to antibiotics and form more biofilms. To learn more about these phenomena, many experiments must be sent to the International Space Station, which is cost- and time prohibitive. Instead, the use of ground-based analogs is advantageous to define preliminary results that can later be verified with a space-based experiment. This research explored the development of an innovative 2D clinostat for simulating microgravity using bacteria. Computational fluid dynamics, standards established by previous literature and biological test methods were utilized to validate the system’s functionality. More specifically, biological validation consisted of optical density, biofilm analysis and gene regulation. Additionally, prototype vessels were created to utilize aerobic bacteria on future clinostat experiments.
Scholarly Commons Citation
Topolski, Collin R., "Validation of a Two-Dimensional Clinostat Design to Provide Functional Weightlessness to Custom Gas Exchange Vessels" (2021). Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses. 597.
https://commons.erau.edu/edt/597
