KUBIK based

KUBIK is a small controlled-temperature incubator (volume of the thermal chamber around nine litres) used to perform biological experiments in space. Since 2019, KUBIK has been improved by adding data and command communication capabilities, making it a more versatile facility to the final user.

KUBIK allows experiments to operate in the range of 6°C to 38°C, and can accommodate up to 32 standard experiment containers (less in case of extended size containers). A centrifuge with settable gravity level between 0.2g to 2g is available inside the facility.

KUBIK

KUBIK is the ESA incubator and cooler permanently installed in the Columbus module of the ISS since 2004. Self-contained, automatic experiments can be performed using power provided by the facility. Manually operated hardware, which the crew removes from the KUBIK for operations, can also be used.

A success story

So far, KUBIK has hosted a large number of successfully completed Biology experiments, most of which were developed by Kayser Italia.

All payloads developed by Kayser Italia, with the following exceptions:

(*) Experiment containers developed by Kayser Italia

(**) Developed by others

Operational concept

KUBIK features a thermal chamber that is designed to host removable inserts. The inserts are designed to accommodate the experiment containers. The experiment containers host the bioreactors where the experiment is performed.

Temperature set points (and acceleration, when centrifuge is used) can easily be changed via remote control. Internal and ambient temperatures, acceleration, events, and status can be downloaded to ground during the experiment. KUBIK allows experiments to operate in the range of 6°C to 38°C, and can accommodate up to 32 standard experiment containers (less in case of extended size containers). A centrifuge with settable gravity level between 0.2g to 2g is available inside the facility. 

KUBIK supports removable inserts for maximal flexibility. Four inserts are available: the Centrifuge Insert, the Interface Plate, the Interface Plate Magnum and the Passive Insert. The inserts are designed to provide mechanical interface to different types and numbers of experiment containers. All inserts (but the Passive Insert) provide also electrical and data interface.

Centrifuge Insert

The Centrifuge Insert has 16 static slots and 8 slots on the centrifuge. This insert is used to perform experiments in microgravity and in simulated gravity, such as terrestrial, Martian or Lunar.

The following experiment containers developed by Kayser Italia are compatible with the Centrifuge Insert:

KIC-SL
KIC-SL-E
KIC-DL
KIC-DL-E
KIC-SLC
KIC-SLA-E3W
KIC-NLA

Interface Plate

The Interface Plate provides a support for the accommodation of large experiment containers, and was designed to allow the exploitation of the whole KUBIK’s tank volume (roughly 9 liters). This insert is used to perform experiments in microgravity.

The Biokon experiment container developed by Kayser Italia is compatible with the Interface Plate. Design of custom experiment containers to exploit the available volume to the maximum extent is possible.

Interface Plate Magnum

The Interface Plate Magnum has 4 slots designed to host the KIC-DLM experiment container developed by Kayser Italia. This insert is used to perform experiments in microgravity.

Passive Insert

The Passive Insert has 32 slots. This insert is used to perform experiments in microgravity.

The following experiment containers developed by Kayser Italia are compatible with the Passive Insert:

KIC-SL
KIC-SL-E
KIC-DL
KIC-DL-E
KIC-SLC
KIC-SLA-E3W
KIC-NLA

Passive Insert outside KUBIK