Jun 5, 11:07 PM

Florida Tech to host shuttle experimenters

By Brad Buck
FLORIDA TODAY

MELBOURNE -- Nearly 60 European Space Agency scientists will perform experiments at Florida Tech to support a shuttle Columbia mission slated to launch in July.

It will be the first time a Florida university provides real-time ground support for payload experiments. The scientists will use 12 Florida Tech laboratories to research osteoporosis, protein crystallization and the effects of microgravity on bone stem cells.

During their stay at Florida Tech, the space agency scientists will host public seminars, providing a rare look at real-time space-based research.

Florida Tech President Lynn Edward Weaver said the university is honored to host the delegation.

"We believe that this opportunity speaks volumes about the quality of Florida Tech in general and of our life sciences labs specifically," Weaver said. "We have met and exceeded the ESA's strict requirements, and we are quite proud of that."

Frank Kinney, executive director of Florida's Technical Research and Development Authority, said pairing the space agency and Florida Tech was a natural move.

"It really marks the first time that we've tried to provide ground support for a payload, as opposed to everybody doing everything at Kennedy Space Center," Kinney said.

Scientists need to replicate the experiment on earth at the same time astronauts do it on the shuttle, he said.

Four groups of experiments will be run by the European Space Agency, said Gary Wells, head of the department of biological sciences. "For each group, a Florida Tech faculty member, graduate student, undergraduate student and a local high school science teacher will provide support," he said.