Why In-Space R&D?
In-space R&D utilises the unique microgravity environment in space to accelerate biotechnology experiments by exploiting the vastly improved protein crystallisation, 3D cell culture, and expedited ageing for applications such as accelerated disease modelling.
Protein crystallisation in microgravity offers benefits such as eliminating sedimentation and convection, which hinder crystal growth on Earth. In microgravity, proteins can form larger, more ordered crystals with improved quality, allowing detailed structural analysis using techniques like X-ray crystallography.
This enhanced crystal quality can provide valuable insights into protein structure-function relationships, aiding drug discovery, and the development of therapeutics targeting various diseases.

Cell culture in space offers unique opportunities for scientific research, particularly in the field of tissue engineering and drug development. Microgravity affects the behaviour of cells and tissues. In space, cells grow in three dimensions rather than the flattened structures typical in traditional 2D cell cultures. This more realistic growth pattern can provide a better understanding of how drugs interact with cells and tissues, potentially leading to more accurate predictions of drug responses in the human body.
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Credit: Scott Robinson,
MicroQuin
Microgravity offers a distinct lens into the ageing process, with microgravity acting as a powerful accelerator of musculoskeletal decline. In the absence of gravity, astronauts experience rapid bone density loss and muscle atrophy, resembling osteoporosis and sarcopenia, but occurring in weeks instead of years. Space is a "fast-forward" lab to study ageing-related conditions. By observing how bones and muscles respond to unloading in microgravity, researchers can uncover critical biological mechanisms, test new therapies, and develop interventions that will improve bone and muscle health for aging Earth populations.


Organ-on-a-chip technology, when tested in microgravity, accelerates disease modelling and reveals how human tissues respond to drugs in ways Earth-based labs can't replicate. In space, cells behave differently - disease processes speed up, and drug effects become clearer.
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For biopharma, this means faster, more accurate testing of new treatments, reduced reliance on animal models, and earlier insights into safety and efficacy. Microgravity is helping bring better therapies to patients, sooner.

Credit: NASA
How? With SpaceLab
Our primary product offering is SpaceLab; a scalable, modular, autonomous lab-in-a-box capable of industrialising in-orbit manufacturing of high-value bioproducts and hosting biopharma R&D.

Come fly with us
Overview of a previously-tested SpaceLab configuration
We have an in-depth understanding of the constraints which are associated with the operation and storage of biological samples. Our advanced environmental control system maintains the integrity of your samples and ensures robust and reliable results. We’ve streamlined our pre-flight and post-flight recovery operations, including data and experiment retrieval, keeping integration and separation times to a minimum, enabling us to fly a wider range of biological experiments.