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Mission STS-129
News
December 21, 2009
The Canadian APEX-Cambium willow plants were harvested by International Space Station Astronaut Jeff Williams, who cut the saplings just below the loops made by Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Bob Thirsk (see below) and froze the samples to preserve their cells for study by scientists from the University of New Brunswick. The samples will be returned to Earth aboard Space Shuttle mission STS-130 in February 2010. Note the 4 looped plants in the back row (behind the smaller plants) which will be kept for comparison purposes. The white and black grid in the background allowed researchers on the ground to gauge plant growth and direction.
(Photo: NASA)
December 15, 2009
How do trees grow in space?
The Canadian APEX-Cambium willow trees launched to the International Space Station in late November are growing well and have sprouted new leaves and roots. However, the latest photos of the plants show that they are unable to sense "up" and "down" in the reduced gravity conditions of space, and their roots are growing in all different directions.
The APEX-Cambium willow trees aboard the International Space Station. The trees are growing in a sealed bag to retain moisture. They are exposed to cabin light and checked regularly by the crew. New leaves and roots indicate that the plants are growing and are in good health.
(Photo: NASA)
A close-up of the roots of the APEX-Cambium plants shows that the root network is extending in all directions (the roots are the white shoots pointing "up" from the top surface of the tray). (Photo: NASA)
NASA Astronaut Jeff Williams is scheduled to harvest the trees around December 21. They will be preserved in a solution and returned to Earth, where Canadian scientists from the University of New Brunswick will analyze their growth and compare them to trees grown on Earth in similar conditions to learn more about how trees form wood.
November 21, 2009
CSA Astronaut and Expedition 20/21 crew member Bob Thirsk poses
with the Canadian willow trees. (Photo: NASA).
On Saturday, November 21, Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Bob Thirsk removed the APEX-Cambium willow saplings from the International Space Station's refrigerator and analyzed their health. He selected 18 of the original 24 samples for the experiment, 12 of which were looped and 6 were kept as controls for comparison with the looped plants. All 18 plants were then installed in a pre-moistened root tray and inserted into the ABRS incubator. The willows will continue to grow in space for the next 30 days or so, at which time they will be harvested and returned to Earth for analysis.
A close-up of one of the APEX-Cambium willow trees on the International Space Station.
(Credit: NASA)
November 19, 2009 – Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Robert Thirsk unloads the cargo for the APEX-Cambium experiment. (Credit: NASA)
November 20, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009: Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Bob Thirsk installed and activated the ABRS incubator on board the International Space Station (ISS) around 11:00 a.m. Eastern today. Yesterday, Dr Thirsk and and NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin transferred the APEX-Cambium willow trees from the Shuttle to the ISS. The plants are currently being stored in the Station's refrigerators to preserve them for the experiment, which Dr Thirsk will begin tomorrow, Saturday, November 21.
November 16, 2009
APEX-Cambium launched on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis on Monday, November 16, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. EST. Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Bob Thirsk will begin the experiment on Saturday, November 21st.
