As part of the scientific program on the International Space Station (ISS), the first female cosmonaut Marina Vasilevskaya plans to perform biotechnological experiments on the cultivation and storage of samples of probiotic strains of lactic acid microorganisms and bifidobacteria in space flight, as well as the production of samples of fermented dairy products with a complex of probiotic cultures. Scientists of the Institute of Meat and Dairy Industry of the NAS of Belarus have specially selected strains of lactic acid microorganisms and bifidobacteria, determined optimal nutrient media and dairy bases for the development of strains and developed cultures combinations in a space experiment.
As a result of the conducted research, new data will be obtained on the safety and properties of strains of lactic acid microorganisms and bifidobacteria, as well as their combinations in a state of suspended animation and after cultivation, on the parameters for the production of fermented dairy products in space flight.
Employees of the Institute of Meat and Dairy Industry, Head of the Biotechnology Department Natalia Zhabanos and Head of the Laboratory of Microbiological Research and Collection of Industrial Microorganisms of the Biotechnology Department Yelena Biryuk successfully carried out the pre-flight training of scientific equipment Bioecology and Probiovit, intended for use on board the ISS in carrying out a scientific research program. This pre-flight training was made on the basis of the State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS SSC RF – IBP RAS, Moscow) together with the staff of this center and specialists of Rocket and Space Corporation Energia and NPP BioTechSys, LLC.
As previously reported, the flight of the Belarusian cosmonaut was originally conceived and implemented as a flight for research purposes. The scientific flight program was developed by the NAS of Belarus with the participation of the RAS and approved by Roscosmos. It includes seven experiments, of which five are research experiments and two are educational experiments.
