Mission

PRISMSpace-1 International Space Station payload is a joint effort of 4 high school students at Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science.

Primary Objective

The primary Payload's mission was to demonstrate the operation of a low cost high precision timer capable of measuring the effect of time dilation due to Einstein’s theories of relativity. The results of this experiment illustrate timer's effectiveness and ability to be used in a multitude of research situations that rely on precision timing. In order to supplement the completion of the primary objective, multiple redundant systems and environmental measurement sensors were integrated in an effort to eliminate all possible errors in our measurements. Current PRISMS students are now working with the acquired data to accurately prove observation of the dilation effect.

Secondary Objective

Our secondary mission objective will be to test the effect of the near-space environment on the mutation of DNA sequences. If approved, this subsystem will consist of a small apparatus that will replicate DNA sequences in vitro. To accomplish this task, a small quantity of DNA solution will be thermo-cycled for the duration of our time on the International Space Station. If the following proposed system is not approved, we request that consideration be made over our minimum requirement of flying a small quantity of DNA solution in a sealed vessel. If neither are approved, it does not negatively affect primary mission objective.