SpaceMD’s first Starfall mission is planned for launch in 2028 and is expected to have the capacity to carry up to 32 of Redwire’s Pharmaceutical In-Space Laboratory.

Space Microgravity Development LLC (SpaceMD), a wholly owned subsidiary of Redwire Corporation, has signed a contract for a mission aboard SpaceX’s upcoming Starfall spacecraft, marking a significant step in expanding commercial pharmaceutical research and manufacturing in microgravity.

The first SpaceMD Starfall mission is scheduled for launch in 2028 and is expected to carry up to 32 of Redwire’s Pharmaceutical In-Space Laboratory (PIL-BOX) systems. The mission is set to become the largest dedicated commercial microgravity research flight to date, providing pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms and academic researchers with expanded access to space-based research.

Starfall, a new spacecraft developed by SpaceX, is designed to provide affordable and routine access to the microgravity environment, enabling on-orbit manufacturing, scientific research and technology testing. Under the agreement, drug candidates selected through SpaceMD’s research programmes will be studied in the spacecraft’s microgravity environment before being returned to Earth for analysis, with the aim of accelerating pharmaceutical development and other commercial research.

As part of the programme, SpaceMD will develop a new version of its PIL-BOX technology to support research across the entire Starfall spacecraft. The upgraded system is intended to optimise experiments and provide greater research capacity for customers seeking to leverage microgravity for drug discovery and development.

The initiative builds on Redwire’s extensive experience in life sciences research conducted aboard crewed space platforms, including the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS).

John Vellinger, CEO of SpaceMD, said: “Space-based pharmaceutical development is reaching an inflection point. For decades, Redwire has built and operated the infrastructure that has enabled critical progress in microgravity research. Now, by combining our flight-proven microgravity payloads, such as PIL-BOX, with SpaceX’s innovative transportation capabilities, we’re dramatically expanding our ability to serve customers, increase research cadence, and accelerate the creation of life-changing therapies.”

SpaceMD’s PIL-BOX technology enables researchers to crystallise drug compounds in microgravity, supporting the development of improved drug formulations and novel therapeutics. Since November 2023, the company has flown 54 PIL-BOX systems to the ISS, with another 12 scheduled for launch later this year. The platform has already been used to crystallise 45 unique compounds, including insulin and molecules targeting cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. Through the Starfall programme, SpaceMD expects to significantly increase the scale and cadence of commercial microgravity research, supporting faster scientific discovery and advancing the development of space-based pharmaceuticals.