Method of testing growth of living organisms in space

A method of testing living organisms in space, the method comprising the steps of:

• on earth providing a chamber having a volume of less than or equal to 1.5 liters and being adapted for removably receiving a plurality of elongate cuvettes therein, the chamber having a base and an illumination lid remote therefrom, a first row of a first plurality of receptacles between the base and lid, and a second row of a corresponding second plurality of receptacles between the base and lid, each receptacle being sized to removably receive at least one respective cuvette therein, each cuvette having a proximal end and a translucent distal end longitudinally opposed thereto and juxtaposed with the illumination lid;
• on earth disposing at least one living organism in each cuvette of a first plurality of cuvettes, to be in contacting with a growth medium disposed therein and maintaining the cuvettes at atmospheric pressure therein;
• on earth disposing the first plurality of cuvettes with the living organisms therein in the receptacles of the chamber to thereby impart artificial light from the illumination lid to the living organisms while in the first plurality of cuvettes;
• transporting the chamber to the international space station for removal from earth gravity for an extended period;
• and
• returning the chamber with the first plurality of cuvettes having the living organisms therein to earth for analysis of the living organisms.