Two South Australian space industry companies are working together to open new pathways to space, enabling local and international organisations to benefit from the opportunities available in microgravity research.
Cambrian Executive Pty Ltd and ResearchSat Pty Ltd have teamed up to help simplify access for businesses and organisations.
With their help, clients and researchers will be able to use microgravity for pivotal research in health and medical science and development of new materials. The first experimental mission under the new teaming arrangement will be a sub-orbital space flight of microbial payloads, due to launch in February 2024.
Tiffany Sharp, Cambrian Executive Director Research and Development said that access to space for research in microgravity is rapidly becoming normalised. “It’s now a simple question of logistics, no different to those familiar research considerations, such as transport and access to medical storage or laboratory facilities,” Sharp said.
“Choices for research involving microgravity exposure currently include; stratospheric, sub-orbital, and orbital via satellite or the International Space Station. There will soon be a variety of space labs in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to choose from, perhaps even owned by universities, medical technology companies, or research foundations”.
“We look forward to partnering with ResearchSat to develop new business and accelerate growth in microgravity research. Many people regard space as futuristic, but we’re demonstrating the capabilities available now, making medical and new product breakthroughs a reality today”, said Sharp.
RaviTeja Duggineni, ResearchSat Chief Executive Officer said that the new collaborative teaming would help build on previous stratospheric and sub-orbital missions with microbial payloads, saying “We’re excited to be working with Cambrian Executive to accelerate and expand access to microgravity research”.
“Microgravity research refers to the study of biological and physical processes in a weightless environment, such as space. This unique environment offers numerous advantages for researchers to explore new frontiers, including accelerated drug development and key insights into cell biology”.
“Microgravity challenges the fluid dynamics affecting the living cell dynamics. Exploring these changes provides new insights that may advance life-science technologies and therapeutics”, said Duggineni.
Image:
Cambrian Executive Co-founder & Managing Director John Godwin (Left)
Stone & Chalk General Manager Dr Tim Mahlberg Sie (centre)
ResearchSat Founder & CEO Ravi Duggineni (Right)
