Press Release: Frontier Space Validates In-Orbit Biotech Systems, Paving Way for Space-Based Drug Research
- msenthilprabu
- Oct 9
- 5 min read
Bedfordshire, 9th October 2025 – Frontier Space has completed its first orbital mission in partnership with ATMOS Space Cargo, validating key technologies aboard its SpaceLab Mark 1 research platform. Launched on 21 April 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Bandwagon-3 and hosted inside ATMOS’s PHOENIX capsule, the mission confirmed the readiness of Frontier Space’s core technology. This marks a significant step toward scalable in-space science and biomanufacturing and lays a strong foundation for upcoming flights.
The mission tested Frontier’s SpaceLab Mark 1, a small, self-contained space laboratory designed to carry out scientific research in microgravity. This first deployment focused on validating the fundamental systems needed for future space-based research and manufacturing, as part of Frontier Space’s broader mission to make space science more accessible.
Key Mission Achievements
The primary objective was to confirm that SpaceLab's essential systems - including power supply, associated computing, imaging, and communications. All systems operated nominally, validating Frontier Space’s core technology for future missions.
One of the payloads, developed for a commercial partner, successfully captured and sent image data back to Earth. Due to a late trajectory change and an updated splashdown zone shortly before the launch, ground station availability was reduced. The PHOENIX capsule transmitted data through limited downlink windows, and a previously developed method allowed the team to partially rebuild key visuals, confirming the effectiveness of the approach. “Early orbital data like this accelerates discovery. Each payload we host and each dataset we downlink shortens the path from concept to application. For our partners, this means the ability to test and adapt ideas in orbit quickly – an essential advantage for research and commercial teams building the next generation of products,” said Marta Oliveira, COO of ATMOS Space Cargo.
Progress on Scientific Goals
The mission included a joint experiment with Prof Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro from Imperial College London, Director of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein, which aimed to test the space-readiness of freeze-dried (lyophilised) biological samples. Although sample recovery was not planned due to mission constraints, this early demonstration confirmed successful integration and stable in-orbit performance data of the biological material in Low Earth Orbit.
Re-entry of biological samples from space has long been limited by cost, technical complexity, and limited access to suitable return vehicles. This mission marks the first attempt to demonstrate biological sample re-entry aboard a privately developed European capsule, an important step toward making microgravity research more accessible and commercially scalable. Successful demonstration of biological sample stability and system integration could open new opportunities for pharmaceutical R&D like protein & gene expressions, biotechnology innovation, and other life sciences applications.
“We dream of a future where humanity sets out into the dark expanses of space. Yet carrying enough food, medicines, and materials for the journey would be unimaginable in cost and weight. This mission shows how academic and industry expertise in physics, engineering, biotech and space science can converge on that challenge. If just a handful of cultivated cells could provide all our food, pharmaceuticals, fuels and bioplastics using freely available resources, we would be one step closer to that future,” said Dr. Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro, Director of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and Microbial Food Hub at Imperial College London.
Another experiment tested abroad this flight was an in-house microfluidics platform - a transparent, miniature device with internal fluidic channels used in cell culture labs on Earth - adapted for in orbit. Due to the mission’s altered trajectory and limited downlink capability, full in-space performance metrics were not recovered. However, ground testing and shared components confirm the viability of the system with the successfully operated core systems, validating the technology for future flights. An improved version of the system is already under development.
“We’re really pleased with the outcome of this mission. Our team was able to design and build the technology demonstration payload in 4 months, and the successful operation in orbit of its core systems gives us further confidence for our next missions. It was a pleasure to work alongside Atmos Space Cargo - they really put their best efforts to make the mission not just a success, but an enjoyable experience. We look forward to flying with them again soon,” said Mateusz Zalasiewicz, CTO of Frontier Space.
Looking Ahead: Focus on Recovery and Data Return
"This mission gave us the confirmation we needed that our baseline systems work in orbit, and it’s also helped highlight where we can improve for next time," said Aqeel Shamsul, CEO of Frontier Space. "We are iterating our technology rapidly and already making updates to our systems based on what we saw."
The company continues to develop its modular SpaceLab platform for a wide range of scientific and scalable industrial uses in space – from biotechnology and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food production. Future flights will build on this foundation, with greater focus on advanced data handling, sample return, and payload maturity.
About Frontier Space
Founded by researchers from Cranfield University, Frontier Space is a UK space biotech company building platform technology to unlock the potential of pharmaceutical in-space biomanufacturing and research & development for the emerging commercial space industry. The company’s platform technologies, Space Lab and XSB, aim to offer accessible, flexible, and scalable infrastructure for pharmaceutical R&D and biomanufacturing in orbit.
Media Contact
Anjali Sanjay
Frontier Space Technologies Ltd
About ATMOS Space Cargo GmbH
ATMOS Space Cargo is a European space company building a sustainable return logistics platform to transport cargo from Low Earth Orbit back to Earth. The company’s core technology, the PHOENIX capsule, enables in-space operation and the safe and efficient return of scientific, commercial, and dual-use payloads to Earth. ATMOS aims to fly its next-generation capsule, PHOENIX 2, in 2026.
ATMOS is building the infrastructure to establish sovereign access to and from space as an accessible, reliable, and strategic pillar of modern European infrastructure.
Media Contact
Krystian Bandzimiera
+49 151 2096 1698
About Imperial College London
We are Imperial – a world-leading university for science, technology, engineering, medicine and business (STEMB), where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.
As a global top ten university in London, we use science to try to understand more of the universe and improve the lives of more people in it. Across our nine campuses and throughout our Imperial Global network, our 22,000 students, 8,000 staff, and partners work together on scientific discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. Their work navigates some of the world’s toughest challenges in global health, climate change, AI, business leadership and more.
Founded in 1907, Imperial’s future builds on a distinguished past, having pioneered penicillin, holography and fibre optics. Today, Imperial combines exceptional teaching, world-class facilities and a habit of interdisciplinary practice to unlock scientific imagination.
Media Contact:
Simon
Imperial College, London