SרL (Space Automated Bioproduct Lab)

A student working with SרL.
SרL is an incubator in use aboard the International Space Station for conducting cell culture and other biological experiments. SרL provides researchers with advanced incubator technology and supports a wide variety of experiments for the development of applications on Earth by pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agribusiness companies.

It was designed to enhance the capabilities of the ISS's prior incubator, the Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA), which was also developed by BioServe. Several important design improvements include:

  • It's quiet.ÌýRather than using loud air fans, SרL quietly cools its system through circulatingÌýwater through tubes. This design modification makes the incubator less disruptive for astronauts.
  • It's user-friendly.ÌýSרLÌýincludes the first color touch screen on the ISSÌýwhich, through robustness and ease of use, reducesÌýrequired crew time for operation. It also includes easy access to the experiment volume via the front of the payload without the need to power down or remove power or data cables.Ìý
  • It's efficient.ÌýSרLÌýtakes less time to cool to the desired temperature, and can reach temperatures between -5 and +40ÌýC (23 to 104 F).Ìý
  • It's spacious.ÌýSרL has a larger experiment volume so more cultures can be grown concurrently.Ìý

Three SרL units are currently in use on ISS.

SרL on board ISS.

Two SרL units (inside highlighted yellow rectangle) aboard ISS.