Studying Cell Physiology and Motility under Microgravitational Influence - Results of the FORAREX Mission on REXUS 25

<div><div>The student project “FORAminifera Rocket</div><div>EXperiment” (FORAREX) was developed and conducted within</div><div>the student educational programme REXUS/BEXUS. Focus of</div><div>this investigation was the cellular response of foraminifera to</div><div>microgravity and the exceptional physical stress during rocket</div><div>launch, e.g., vibration and acceleration. Further the launch</div><div>impact on the shell building capacity of foraminifera was</div><div>examined. For cultivating purposes, a life-support-system with a</div><div>flow cell as observation chamber was built. Monitoring vitality</div><div>and calcification was conducted with sensors measuring pH,</div><div>oxygen and temperature of the sea water. FORAREX launched</div><div>in March 2019 on the sounding rocket REXUS 25 on a nominal</div><div>flight.</div></div>