Polar (refrigerator) explained

Polar is a research refrigerator designed and developed by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering (CBSE) for NASA Cold Stowage. Polar was designed as a single mid-deck locker equivalent payload to store scientific samples on-board ISS and in transport to/from ISS via SpaceX Dragon or Cygnus spacecraft. Polar operates between 4and.^{[1] [2]}

Description

• Polar is mounted in the ISS on the EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to Space Station (EXPRESS) rack.
• Polar can maintain temperatures ranging from 4to.
• Polar is air-cooled via rear-air fan.

Additional Cold Stowage

Polar is one of multiple units available for storage on the ISS and/or transportation to and from the ISS. Others include:

• Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI)
  • 4to
• MERLIN (Microgravity Experiment Research Locker/ Incubator)
  • 48to
• GLACIER (General Laboratory Active Cryogenic ISS Experiment Refrigerator)
  • 4to

See also

• Scientific research on the ISS
• International Space Station
• SpaceX Dragon

Notes and References

1. Web site: Nimon. Jessica. Space Savings for Station Science Samples. NASA. 14 January 2015. 1.
2. Web site: Polar. UAB CBSE. 14 January 2015.