The Baseline Data Collection Facility (BDCF) provides a
highly integrated yet flexible infrastructure that includes
customized research laboratories and expert personnel to
optimize the completion of human life sciences research.
The BDCF is one of only two facilities in the United States
capable of studying astronaut response to spaceflight immediately
upon their return to Earth. The second facility is the Postflight Science Support Facility, located at Dryden Flight
Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California. This
series of laboratories housing experiment-unique equipment
is used to perform physiology testing on Space Shuttle crew
members before, during (monitoring and/or ground controls),
and after flight. The facility provides calibration, installation,
and operation of specialized equipment such as Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) assemblies, densitometers, cardiovascular
devices, and vestibular testing equipment (rotating chair
devices, treadmills, head-and-gaze systems, and obstacle
courses). BDCF personnel coordinate, schedule, and perform
experiment protocol reviews and validate the integrity of
research methods and relevant device systems. Physicians,
nurses, and specialized technicians are provided by KSC
for these activities. BDCF personnel also coordinate customer
use of unique chemicals, radioisotopes, and custom-blended
breathing gases. The BDCF provides a research infrastructure
and a technical workforce to support human research and
testing in response to spaceflight and the conditions of
a microgravity environment with potential research applications
for the general population.
Notable Achievements
Assisted in the collection of data from the postflight recovery process of the Expedition Five crew members after their extended International Space Station (ISS) mission. This information will be used to design and develop effective training methods to allow for a more rapid recovery of balance and coordination upon return to a gravity environment.
Provided programmatic and operational support for ISS, Spacelab, Shuttle, and Shuttle-Mir missions since 1983.
Microbial, Sterility, Clinical, and Hematology Testing
Indoor Air Quality Investigative Surveys
Specialized Gas Mixtures
Autoclaving Services (Steam, Dry Heat)
Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Sterilization System
Radioisotope-Rated Laboratories
Laboratory Assets & Specialized Equipment
Microscope Systems (compound, dissection/stereoscope; upright and inverted frame types)
Centrifuges (refrigerated and nonrefrigerated)
Refrigerators and freezers for controlled specimen and reagent storage (+4 ¢ªC, -20 ¢ªC, -80 ¢ªC)
Laminar flow benches and biological safety cabinets (Type II)
UV-VIS spectrophotometer (Seya-Namioka splitbeam monochromator and deuterium source lamp)
Thermal array recorders, ph meters, and vortex mixers
18-megaohm Distilled Water System
Double-Distilled Water System
MET/GMT Countdown Clock Systems
Competency and Skills
Human physiology experiment testing and monitoring
Biochemistry, biology, cardiovascular and cellular/molecular biology, hematology, microbiology, neurology, nutrition, pharmacology, physiology, virology, pulmonary, clinical, and vestibular systems
NASA, local, state, and federal safety, industrial hygiene, and environmental regulations and procedures that govern research protocols involving human subjects
Import and export regulations for domestic and international transportation of biological materials, chemicals, and equipment to and from KSC
