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 4 and −95 °C (39 and −139 °F).
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 4 to −95 °C (39 to −139 °F). 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) 4 to −80 °C (39 to −112 °F) MERLIN (Microgravity Experiment Research Locker/ Incubator) 48 to −20 °C (118 to −4 °F) GLACIER (General Laboratory Active Cryogenic ISS Experiment Refrigerator) 4 to −160 °C (39 to −256 °F)
See also Scientific research on the ISS International Space Station SpaceX Dragon
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