NASA and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) have opened the Institute for Cell Mimetic Space Exploration (ICMSE) which aims to develop new technologies by mimicking living cells.
"Biological systems have acquired an amazing ability to manage information on multiple levels, organising themselves into increasingly complex structures", says ICMSE director Chih-Ming Ho. "Our strategy is to mimic cells' information processing abilities to establish a model for space system design that will redefine space exploration technology," he adds.
Goals include creating nano- and micro-scale sensors, actuators and energy sources, as well as technologies for astronaut health monitoring and spacecraft research management.
Source: Flight International