
Aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the Tissue Culture Medium (TCM) is the bioreactor vessel in which cell cultures are grown. With its two syringe ports, it is much like a bag used to administer intravenous fluid, except it allows gas exchange needed for life. The TCM contains cell culture medium, and when frozen cells are flown to the ISS, they are thawed and introduced to the TCM through the syringe ports. In the Cellular Biotechnology Operations Support System-Fluid Dynamics Investigation (CBOSS-FDI) experiment, several mixing procedures are being assessed to determine which method achieves the most uniform mixing of growing cells and culture medium.

STS040-30-008 (5-14 June 1991) --- Astronaut Tamara E. Jernigan, after applying a blood pressure cuff to an experiment, watches it in operation. The experiment is the intravenous infusion pump. The device is being considered for use on Space Station Freedom's Health Maintenance Facility. Dr. Jernigan is one of seven crew members supporting the nine-day Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS-1) mission aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Columbia.