Eli Lilly and Company is first investigator using new platform  

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (July 28, 2022) –Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW), a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, announced that it will be developing new in-space manufacturing technology to provide novel and flexible services to grow small-batch crystals of protein-based pharmaceuticals and other key pharmaceutically relevant molecules for research and production. The Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory – Bio-crystal Optimization Xperiment (PIL-BOX) will provide commercial customers and researchers an innovative platform in microgravity that could improve the development of pharmaceuticals and other products.

TOKYO (Space BD PR) — Space BD Inc., the leading Japanese space startup providing access to space, announced that it has been appointed as the sole private partner by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for its “Selection of Private Partners in the High-Quality Protein Crystal Growth Experiment Service.” Space BD signed a basic agreement with JAXA on May 6, 2021. The experiment service is one of the privatization initiatives for ISS Kibo utilization led by JAXA.

In this project, Space BD will inherit the various know-how from JAXA through the contracted operational preparation for the high-quality protein crystal growth while improving the convenience of users and the efficiency of the experiment system by introducing a new IT system including the original smartphone App. Moreover, by utilizing the experiment opportunities provided by JAXA, Space BD will offer the service to develop business around the world.

• The plasma crystal experiments are one of the first and most successful research projects on the ISS.
• The first long-term tests under weightlessness started on March 3, 2001: They provide insights into physical processes at the atomic level.
• ISS astronauts are always part of the plasma research team, including Thomas Reiter during his Astrolab mission.
• From 22-29. The next experiments on board the ISS will run on March 2021.

COLOGNE, Germany (DLR) — For 20 years they have been a reliable source of new insights into physics: the plasma crystal experiments on board the International Space Station ISS. Basic knowledge for the textbooks of the future is the main goal of this research. Various applications can be derived from the knowledge gained, in particular in the fields of medicine, environmental protection, space travel as well as semiconductor and microchip technologies. 

By means of technology transfers, plasma research also opens up new fields of application, based for example on the development of miniaturized laboratory systems suitable for space travel. The first ISS crew already had plasma research on their agenda and on March 3, 2001 the starting shot was given for the first long-term tests under weightlessness. The current crew will now carry out the latest series of experiments at the end of March.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Redwire PR) — The Industrial Crystallization Facility (ICF) is a commercial in-space manufacturing device designed to provide proof-of-principle for diffusion-based crystallization methods to produce high-quality optical crystals in microgravity relevant for terrestrial use. ICF was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on Northrop Grumman’s CRS-15 on February 20. 

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., February 17, 2021 (CASIS PR) – On Saturday, February 20, no earlier than 12:36 p.m. EST, Northrop Grumman is scheduled to launch its Cygnus spacecraft on an Antares rocket to the International Space Station (ISS), marking its 15th mission under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program.

The launch, which will take place from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, will deliver thousands of pounds of critical supplies and research to the space station. Moreover, many of the payloads on this mission showcase the diversity of research sponsored by the ISS U.S. National Laboratory, with investigations in the physical and life sciences, materials research, and the validation of new facilities that further research and development in low Earth orbit.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (CASIS PR) – On December 7^th, a Dragon spacecraft loaded with thousands of pounds of critical supplies and research docked with the International Space Station (ISS), paving the way for an incredibly busy Expedition 64 dedicated to executing science on the orbiting laboratory.

SpaceX’s 21^st commercial resupply services (CRS-21) mission to the ISS brought with it a variety of life science investigations sponsored by the U.S. National Laboratory that will be evaluated in the unique microgravity environment, intending to benefit patient care on Earth. Since Dragon’s arrival, the astronauts have been hard at work performing many of these investigations.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (CASIS PR) — SpaceX’s 21^st commercial resupply mission (CRS-21) to the International Space Station (ISS) is slated for launch on December 5 at 11:39 a.m. EST from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The ISS U.S. National Laboratory is sponsoring more than 15 payloads on this mission that will bring value to our nation and further enable a sustainable market in low Earth orbit.

Twenty Alabama high school juniors have helped to prepare crystal growth experiments that American space tourist Richard Garriott will take to the International Space Station in October. The Birmingham News has story about the students’ involvement in the program, which was spearheaded by University of Alabama at Huntsville associate professor Joe Ng. Crystals grow at different rates in micro-gravity than they do in normal gravity. The students will compare the […]