MERLIN (Microgravity Experiment Research Locker/ Incubator)

Microgravity Experiment Research Locker/Incubator (MERLIN) was designed by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering (CBSE) to operate as a hardmounted, single middeck locker equivalent within the ISS EXPRESS rack, the Space Shuttle, Dragon (spacecraft), and Cygnus (spacecraft) . It is used to provide a temperature controlled environment for scientific experiments between -20 °C and 48.5 °C. MERLIN is also used to Support Crew Galley Operations.^[1]

Description

• MERLIN is cooled using Thermoelectric elements, and can be cooled to -20 °C while using ISS water supply or -10 °C while only being air cooled. Resistive heating elements are used to provide an incubation capacity up to 48.5 °C.
• MERLIN contains temperature sensor connections inside the payload volume, for monitoring sample temperature, for up to 12 sensors.
• The internal sample volume is ~0.65 ft³.

Additional Cold Stowage

MERLIN is one of multiple units available for storage on the ISS and/or transportation to and from the ISS.

• Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI)
  • +4 °C to -80 °C

• GLACIER (General Laboratory Active Cryogenic ISS Experiment Refrigerator)
  • +4 °C to –160 °C

• Polar (Research Refrigerator for ISS)
  • +4 °C to -95 °C

See also

• Scientific research on the ISS
• International Space Station
• Dragon (spacecraft)

References