Foreword

This cooperative ESA/DARA volume,Life Sciences Experiments Performed on Sounding Rockets (1985-1994), summarises the results of 10 years of European life sciences research under the microgravity conditions provided by sounding rockets. Although the TEXUS Sounding Rocket Programme was established by the German Ministry of Research and Technology in 1976 primarily as a preparatory programme for Spacelab materials and fluid science experiments, biologists also became aware of the interesting opportunities after a few flights. In 1988, ESA performed the first life sciences experiments within TEXUS, beginning an era of successful cooperation. ESA then complemented this programme by creating further opportunities for life sciences experiments aboard MASER and MAXUS.

Sounding rocket activities have become a cornerstone of ESA s current Microgravity Programme, EMIR 1, extending into 1997, and its EMIR 2 successor, as well as of DARA s Research under Space Conditions programme. The investigations summarised in this volume provide clear proof that 6 min of g can yield interesting results in the field of life sciences investigations, particularly in gravitational biology and biotechnology. This report is not intended as a substitute for the papers that have appeared in the scientific literature, but rather as a compilation of the results obtained.

The ESA/DARA sounding rocket programme is one of today s most successful programmes for scientific and technological experiments under g conditions. In future, sounding rockets will - in addition to their importance as carriers for short-term experiments in their own right - play an important role in preparing experiments for their use of the International Space Station. The strong interest expressed by numerous scientists throughout Europe is certain proof for this additional role of the sounding rocket programme. Reporting on past experiments and their results is therefore essential for attracting interesting science and enhancing the quality of future investigations.

Dr Dick Mesland Senior            Prof Dr Günter Ruyters
Life Scientist                    Head, Life Sciences
European Space Agency             Deutsche Agentur für
                                  Raumfahrtangelegenheiten