CREST consists of four research units, each focusing on key areas in space research, including biology and physiology, materials science, thermal management, and life support systems. The staff is composed of twenty-seven people among senior researchers, post-docs, PhD students and technical personnel. The facility is organized into three primary research laboratories, each specializing in a distinct field.
The Materials Science laboratory is equipped with a range of advanced analytical instruments, including three 3D printers, a Dimatix Materials Printer (DMP-2850), a CO2 laser engraving system, and a controlled-atmosphere glove box for chip and biotech manipulations.
The Aerospace Payload laboratory features a Thermal Vacuum Chamber, phase change measurement equipment, tensile testing machines, a degassing unit, and instruments for measuring thermal conductivity and diffusivity.
The Biolab is equipped with two 3D bioprinters, a random positioning machine for simulated gravity experiments, a UV/OZONE system for polymer curing and bio-chip cleaning, a high-resolution microscope Keyence VHX-6000, a Mastersizer Shimadtzu 3000, a confocal spinning disc microscope, a Raman spectroscopy for protein detection, and a tensile machine Shimadzu Autograph AGS-X for tissue mechanical loading.
Keywords :
Bioprinting in Space, Life support systems, Radiation protection materials, Electric space propulsion, Food production in Space
Contact:
Valérie Tommen (valerie.tommen@ulb.be)