Redwire, through its subsidiary SpaceMD, has purchased the first operational flight of SpaceX Starfall to advance drug research in microgravity. This initiative aims to enhance drug potency and qualities. If successful, the drugs manufactured in space will be the first tangible products made off Earth. Historically, Earth observation and satellite communications have been the only successful commercial space products.
Space-manufactured drugs have been explored in experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) and previously during space shuttle missions. SpaceMD’s use of Starfall represents significant progress towards developing treatments for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s in low Earth orbit.
The SpaceX Starfall, initially launched on a Falcon 9 on June 23, can also be dispatched on a Starship. The spacecraft is approximately 2.5 feet tall with a diameter of 10.2 feet, weighing around 4,600 pounds. It holds approximately 2,200 pounds of cargo. Starfall consists of two main components: an aluminum top plate weighing about 3,090 pounds and a detachable carbon-fiber heat shield. The cargo occupies the top plate.
Typical Starfall missions involve transporting payloads like SpaceMD’s to low Earth orbit. The spacecraft remains there, reenters the Earth’s atmosphere, and splashes down in the ocean. SpaceMD plans to launch its mission in 2028 to deploy up to 32 Pharmaceutical In-Space Laboratories, dubbed PIL-BOXes. These will aid in crystallizing drug compounds in microgravity to create improved formulations and new therapeutics.
Previously, Redwire has sent PIL-BOX versions to the ISS. Starfall will significantly enhance SpaceMD’s ability to conduct drug research in low Earth orbit. Tech Times reports that SpaceMD can process over 100 different drug compounds during a single Starfall mission. Conversely, the company has so far crystallized 45 drug compounds on the ISS, including insulin and drugs targeting cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Conducting drug crystallization in space removes gravity and temperature differentials, two factors that impair crystal formation on Earth. Drug crystals formed in space are larger and more orderly than those grown on the ground. This crystalline structure impacts dissolution rate, solubility, and bioavailability—determining how quickly and completely an active ingredient enters the bloodstream.
The initial step in creating new pharmaceuticals involves growing these drug crystals. SpaceMD holds a licensing agreement with ExesaLibero Pharma to develop drugs from these crystals, navigating the process of clinical trials and regulatory approval. Each drug ExesaLibero Pharma commercializes using space-grown crystals will generate royalties for Redwire’s subsidiary.
The specific benefits of space-manufactured drugs are yet to be fully realized. However, they promise significant advances for those suffering from debilitating diseases. The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2026, over 2.1 million individuals in the U.S. will receive a cancer diagnosis, with 626,140 deaths anticipated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projects that 6.7 million American adults will have Alzheimer’s, expecting this to double by 2060. Thus, any treatment reducing these numbers would be significant.
Historically, the value of space activities has been debated. Politicians, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, have sometimes criticized commercial space efforts by figures like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. Despite such critiques, the tangible benefits from space exploration are increasing. Thanks to companies like Redwire, more effective medications are on the horizon, marking the dawn of a new commercial space era.
Mark R. Whittington frequently writes about space policy. He has published works such as “Why is It So Hard to Go Back to the Moon?,” “The Moon, Mars and Beyond,” and “Why is America Going Back to the Moon?” He blogs at Curmudgeons Corner.
Leave a Reply