Frontier Space Launched Orbital Mission with Azenta Life Sciences to De-Risk SpaceLab Platform for Future Pharmaceutical Research and Biomanufacturing
- msenthilprabu
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Nottingham, January 2026 - Frontier Space has successfully launched its latest orbital test campaign, EGGS-2 (Early Gen micro-Gravity Service), working in close partnership with Azenta Life Sciences and Orbital Paradigm as part of its ongoing programme to mature next-generation microgravity research infrastructure for pharmaceutical and life-science applications.
PSLV-C62 Lift Off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre
The EGGS-2 mission represented another step in Frontier Space’s rapid, iterative approach to developing its SpaceLab platform, a modular, autonomous orbital laboratory designed to enable future pharmaceutical research and in-space biomanufacturing. Within a nine-month period, Frontier Space has designed, built, delivered, and launched two independent space-biotech flight systems, with each flight system developed and delivered in approximately four months.
The campaign focused on validating spacecraft integration, system activation, communications, and environmental monitoring in real launch conditions. Azenta Life Sciences supported the mission through the provision of FluidX™ sample tube technology, selected for its precision engineering, reliability, and suitability for controlled-environment applications, as well as Azenta’s established expertise in sample integrity, containment, and traceability - qualities critical to ensuring confidence in data derived from microgravity environments. Orbital Paradigm provided the KID capsule platform, supporting payload integration and mission operations.
Although the launch vehicle did not complete its nominal flight profile, Orbital Paradigm confirmed that the KID capsule successfully powered on and transmitted engineering telemetry, providing valuable system-level data. Learnings from testing, assembly and integration helped Frontier Space fasten the build-fly-learn cycle, reinforcing the company’s “test as you fly” philosophy and its ability to rapidly advance capability through iteration.
Dr. Aqeel Shamsul, CEO of Frontier Space, said:
“Spaceflight is never routine, and progress comes from testing systems as they’re meant to fly and iterating quickly. Days like this are part of how new capability matures. Frontier Space remains fully committed to building a reliable, repeatable path to microgravity for pharmaceutical industries, and we will continue working with our partners to deliver on that vision.”
Alexis MacLeod, Senior Global Product Manager at Azenta Life Sciences, added:
“We are thrilled to see our FluidX technology becoming part of this historic mission. This is just the beginning - we envision a future where our customers will use the space environment to push the boundaries of science, accelerating breakthroughs that improve lives around the world.”
Michael Bussmann, Vice President & General Manager, Consumables and Instruments, Azenta Life Sciences, added:
“Our collaboration with Frontier Space Technologies highlights the proven reliability of Azenta’s FluidX consumables, engineered to perform under the most demanding conditions, including spaceflight. By demonstrating the integrity of our sample storage tubes in spaceflight testing, we’re helping build the foundation for future biological and pharmaceutical research beyond Earth.”
Francesco Cacciatore, CEO & CTO of Orbital Paradigm, said:
“We're honoured of having Frontier Space as a customer, flying a payload onboard KID. This mission allows Frontier to shorten its development cycle by flying SpaceLab Mk 2 again just seven months after its first mission, while Azenta proves its FluidX consumables in microgravity. For us this has been a great opportunity to understand how to develop our systems and services to comply with real customer requirements, and to learn how to perform a complete payload integration and mission cycle. Working together has allowed all of us to progress and gain valuable heritage in life-science microgravity onboard free flyers"
About Frontier Space
Frontier Space is a UK-based space biotech company developing platform technologies to unlock pharmaceutical research and in-space biomanufacturing for the emerging commercial space industry. Its SpaceLab and XSB platforms are designed to provide scalable, flexible infrastructure for life-science research in orbit.
About Azenta Life Sciences
Azenta, Inc. (Nasdaq: AZTA) is a leading provider of life sciences solutions worldwide, enabling life science organizations around the world to bring impactful breakthroughs and therapies to market faster. Azenta provides a full suite of reliable cold-chain sample management solutions and multiomics services across areas such as drug development, clinical research and advanced cell therapies for the industry's top pharmaceutical, biotech, academic and healthcare institutions globally. Our global team delivers and supports these products and services through our industry-leading brands, including GENEWIZ, FluidX, Ziath, 4titude, Limfinity, FreezerPro, and Barkey. Azenta is headquartered in Burlington, MA, with operations in North America, Europe and Asia.
About Orbital Paradigm
Orbital Paradigm is a space systems company delivering flexible in-orbit services and payload hosting solutions, supporting rapid development and deployment of customer missions.
Media Contacts
Frontier Space
Anjali Sanjay
Orbital Paradigm
Florian
Azenta Life Sciences
Caroline Mackinnon