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AAH, The Latest Development in Microgravity Animal Research. J.T. Iverson, M.C. Lee, J.C Emmerich, Orbital Technologies Corporation, 1212 Fourier Drive, Madison WI.

   The Advanced Animal Habitat (AAH) represents the next generation of Space Station based animal research facilities. Building upon previously developed flight hardware and experience, the AAH offers greatly enhanced system capabilities and performance. The design focuses upon the creation of a robust and flexible platform capable of supporting present and future experimental needs.

   A modular packaging and distributed control architecture leads to increased system adaptability and expandability. The baseline configuration includes group housing capability for up to six rats with automated food and water delivery as well as waste collection. Animals are continuously monitored by three cameras during both day and night cycles and can be accessed while on-orbit through the Life Sciences Glovebox to perform a wide variety of experimental protocols.

   Under the current design concept, the AAH is partitioned into 14 individual subsystems. Each subsystem is a separate physical entity and carries with it localized control, data acquisition and processing capabilities. In addition to the manufacturing and serviceability advantages, this allows greater overall system flexibility. Most of the details associated with the science and specimen support functions are handled at the subsystem level. This allows future improvements and capabilities to be incorporated with minimal impact on the rest of the system. Examples of potential future system capabilities include accommodation of mice specimens, supporting multiple cage configurations, addition of an animal biotelemetry system, and support of multiple camera configurations.

   The modular design allows easy change-out of expendables including the waste filter, food and water and improves reliability and lifetime by increasing the extent of on-orbit refurbishment. The design also incorporates the findings of numerous component and material research investigations.