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. 2025 Aug 22;15:30898. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-16044-y

Table 2.

Detailed analysis of requirements.

Lab-payload requirements Comment
LEO Lab—payload remains functional during the satellite’s exposure to particle radiation and protects the biological object from its influence The value of the accumulated radiation dose depends, among others, on the time and orbit parameters and the method of implementing the construction of the lab—payload and satellite platform
Lab—payload remains functional when the satellite is exposed to variable heat fluxes Operating temperature range for the satellite’s internal components: from − 40 °C to + 50 °C29
Lab—payload remains functional during the vacuum exposure The range of changes from 10–6 to 10–4 Pa30
Lab—payload remains functional in microgravity conditions The range of changes from 10–6 to 10–3 m/s230
ROCKET Materials used for the construction of the lab-payload (especially the outer casing and mounting elements) are characterized by very low gassing coefficients in vacuum

Total Mass Loss (TML) ≤ 1.0%

Collected Volatile Condensable Material (CVCM) ≤ 0.1% According to 3.1.8.1 and 3.1.8.232

Materials used for the construction of the lab—payload were not included in the list of hazardous materials According to the Table 49 CFR §172.1033
Lab—payload fulfill electromagnetic compatibility requirements Verification required according to launch service provider specifications
Lab—payload remains functional after lunch acceleration Verification required in random vibration test, according to launch service provider specifications
Lab—payload remains functional after the satellite is exposed to the thermal conditions of rocket launch Verification in a thermal-vacuum test, according to launch service provider specifications
Biological experiment is adjusted to “wait” time for launch in orbit (pause/off mode) Shutting down a CubeSat takes about 3–5 months, a biological experiment may be suspended even longer due to the need to carry out the process of assembly, integration, and testing of the device
CUBESAT

Nanosatellite volume – 3U

Lab—payload volume ≈ 2U

On the selected 3U satellite platform (SatRev) ≤ 96 mm × 96 mm × 190 mm including mounting elements
Lab—payload weight ≈ 2.66 kg Accordance with 3.2.1330 taking into account that the center of gravity of the CubeSat should be ≤ 20 mm from its geometric center in the X and Y directions (3.2.1431)
Materials used for the construction of the lab-payload (especially the packaging and mounting elements) do not have ferromagnetic properties Elimination of a potential source of disturbances in the operation of other satellite modules
Maximum current consumed by the lab-payload: 3 A According to the specifications of the universal satellite platform from SatRev: Interface Control Document rev 2.3
Available voltages for lab-payload operation: 3.3 V, 5 V, 12 V
Constant power consumption of lab-payload at 5 V: max. 15 W
Lab-payload has its own electronic module for managing the experiment and recording experiment data The On-Board Computer (OBC) module is an on-board computer only for satellite platform modules
Exchange of lab-payload data with platform modules using the CAN bus Transport and network layer defined by CSP (CubeSat Space Protocol)
Transmission of lab-payload data packets at a speed of ≤ 550 kb/s Direct addressing to the satellite radio module
LAB-PAY LOAD Lab-payload maintains the culture gas mixture The composition of the culturing gas mixture depends on the biological object
Lab-payload maintains the appropriate temperature of biological samples and culture medium Plus temperatures, the exact value/range varies depending on the biological object
Lab-payload ensures the flow of culture medium Range from µl/min to ml/min, exact values depend on the method of implementing the biological sample carrier and the microfluidic system as well as the biological object being tested
Lab-payload provides the measurement of the humidity of the indoor atmosphere Humidity is important for traditional culturing; the range required varies depending on the biological object
Lab-payload protects against cosmic radiation Lab-payload is intended to enable the assessment of the impact of microgravity on a biological object
Lab—payload ensures the detection of the biological sample and the progress of the experiment Required non-invasive method that does not affect the condition of the biological object or the progress of the experiment