Advanced Mini-laboratories Automate Space Station Research
NASA-supported mini-laboratories on the International Space Station automate research, reducing crew time while enabling studies in drug development, materials science, and biology.
The International Space Station relies on automated systems like Redwire’s ADvanced Space Experiment Processors (ADSEPs) to conduct science experiments with minimal astronaut involvement. Each ADSEP unit contains three to four cassettes—mini-laboratories—that run multiple studies simultaneously, including the latest ADSEP-4 model with imaging capabilities. Since 2017, ADSEPs have supported over two dozen investigations, with new projects planned to expand research efficiency aboard the orbiting lab.
Recent ADSEP investigations focus on growing seed crystals in microgravity, which can improve drug formulations or lead to new therapeutics. The Pharmaceutical In-Space Laboratory (PIL-BOX) system, using ADSEP cassettes, has enabled experiments like ADSEP-PIL-10, which crystallizes cancer-blocking and cancer-promoting molecules to develop an oral cancer medication. Another study, ADSEP-PIL-15, refined production methods for cancer drugs, enhancing their stability and quality.
ADSEPs also support broader research, including cell and tissue culture, organism studies, and materials science. In 2021, the ADSEP-UMAMI experiment examined how bobtail squid interact with beneficial microbes in space, revealing that these microbes can reduce stress responses in host animals and accelerate developmental processes like neuron growth.
The automation and adaptability of ADSEPs allow a wide range of experiments to be conducted on the space station, yielding findings that benefit future space missions and have applications on Earth. These systems reduce the need for direct astronaut intervention while enabling diverse scientific inquiries, from drug development to biological research.