Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG)

The MSG enables astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) to perform a wide variety of materials, combustion, fluids and biotechnology experiments as well as investigations in the microgravity environment.

It can also accommodate minor repairs and servicing of hardware requiring a controlled working environment. The facility offers users a wide range of innovative, utilization alternatives from manual control by astronauts via laptop computers to fully automated and remote control from Earth. A permanent data exchange link with ground stations is also ensured.

The MSG is integrated and used in the US Destiny Laboratory for a projected operational period of ten years.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is using the facility for European experiments. The MSG was used for the first time by the ESA's Belgian astronaut Frank De Winne to perform European experiments during the Odissea mission in October 2002. De Winne performed four different experiments in the MSG in the field of protein crystallization, zeolites crystallization, combustion and fluid science.