September 19th, 2024
A prototype research facility created in Christchurch, New Zealand, is set to be launched into orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The project is the result of a partnership between the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and US-based Axiom Space, an MBIE media release said on Wednesday.
The facility, designed to investigate protein crystal growth in space, was developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, Senior Lecturer at the University of Canterbury's School of Product Design, in collaboration with teams from Arizona State University and Christchurch companies Asteria Engineering Consultancy and Intranel.
The project was one of two selected for initial feasibility studies in 2022, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between MBIE and Axiom Space.
MBIE Director of Innovative Partnerships, Joe McKay, explained that the facility could lead to significant advancements in the fields of medical, biotechnological, food science, and agricultural innovation. Dr Kessans' research facility is scheduled to be part of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), the third private astronaut mission to the ISS later this year.
Studying protein crystals in microgravity allows them to grow larger and higher in quality than on Earth, which can in turn be used to create detailed images of protein structures. This knowledge can then be applied to develop antiviral drugs and vaccines, among other applications, according to MBIE media release.
Dr Kessans aims to develop a self-contained, autonomous facility that enables on-orbit analysis of thousands of experimental conditions, potentially allowing for more research to be conducted at a lower cost in the future.
The media release further said that New Zealand's partnership with Axiom Space opens up opportunities for commercial microgravity research, particularly as Axiom transitions to operating their future commercial space station in low-Earth orbit. Furthermore, New Zealand has joined Axiom Space's Access Program, an initiative that fosters collaboration among governments worldwide in growing space ecosystems.
In addition to Dr Kessans' project, other local research projects are set to launch into space in the coming years, including a superconducting magnet technology demonstrator developed by Paihau—Robinson Research Institute and Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, which is expected to fly in 2024.