MISSION CIMER
Další-
3U
Size of the satellite
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4
Separate bacteria containers
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2023
Year of the mission establishment
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2028
Year of the planned launch
What is CIMER?
The CIMER (Cyanobacteria In Microgravity Environment Research) bio-mission aims to explore the potential benefits of using desiccative hibernation for cultivating biological substances in space. The project is a joint effort between YSpace at Brno University of Technology and the Space Agri Technologies team at Mendel University. This mission will be the first bioCubeSat from the Czech Republic, which represents an important milestone in efforts to strengthen this industry in our country. The European Space Agency (ESA) was also interested in the mission and decided to support it as part of the Fly Your Satellite! Design Booster 2 program.
What is the main objective?
The main objective of the CIMER mission is to test a prototype of the Micro Biological Container (MIBICO), designed for long-term storage of microalgae and bacterial colonies in space. Successful cultivation of microbiological organisms is crucial for their ability to produce oxygen through photosynthesis and survive in extreme space conditions. The experiment also includes observations of the effect of space radiation and other inhospitable conditions on the viability of cyanobacteria. The capability to withstand these effects is crucial to the ability of humans to expand to other space bodies.
Fly Your Satellite! Design Booster 2 (ESA)
This prestigious ESA program aims to bring innovative student projects as close as possible to their ultimate goal – launching a successful space mission. CIMER was selected in strong competition, alongside only four other projects from across Europe. Over the 18-month support period, the team will benefit from regular consultations with ESA experts and gain access to test facilities, such as those at ESA’s ESTEC center in the Netherlands. At the end of the programme, the design of all components of the satellite will be finalised and it will be ready for flight after the test phase.
What will MIBICO look like?
MIBICO provides a hermetically sealed and optically monitored environment for four cyanobacterial samples. The samples are rehydrated to evaluate reactivation efficiency and physiological responses over time. The payload is equipped with an RGB camera system and environmental sensors to monitor changes in colour, growth, and metabolic indicators such as oxygen production. Developed collaboratively by Space Agri Technologies, Mendel University in Brno (SAT, MENDELU) and the YSpace Team at Brno University of Technology (BUT), MIBICO exemplifies interdisciplinary cooperation between biology and engineering to tackle complex challenges in space exploration. The experiment will contribute to building the foundations for autonomous biotechnological systems in future Moon or Mars missions.
The purpose of the mission?
The CIMER mission represents an important step in the development of space research in the Czech Republic. This mission aims to contribute to our understanding of the processes of biogrowing and will allow us to test technologies that will be used in future space exploration. By involving students and young professionals from the BUT and MENDELU, this mission actively develops mutual cooperation between the institutions, while allowing them to gain valuable practical experience in space research.