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Lexington, Ky. (March 21, 2024) – Space Tango, a leader in microgravity data analytics, biotechnology, and manufacturing successfully launched life science investigations on SpaceX’s 30th Commercial Resupply Services (“CRS-30”) mission from Cape Canaveral, FL.
Space Tango’s research partners at Encapsulate Inc. (“Encapsulate”), the University of San Diego Stem Cell Institute, The University of Notre Dame, Mithrilome Inc. (“Mithrilome”), and Massachusetts General Hospital will conduct investigations in designated CubeLabs on the International Space Station (“ISS”) for an approximate 30-day mission. This mission also includes two student investigations from Higher Orbits and the Quest Institute.
“Space Tango’s CRS-30 manifest highlights our legacy and commitment to providing access to cutting-edge advancements in human health and inspiring the Artemis generation,” said S. Sita Sonty, Space Tango CEO. “This launch highlights the diversity of our customer portfolio and their demands for additional upmass to increase the cadence of data and research off Earth for humanity.”
Space Tango’s CRS-30 payloads will utilize automated, platform-agnostic hardware that permits imaging, microscopy on orbit, and the return of science for further analysis.
On this mission, Encapsulate aims to preclinically validate the performance of their microchip technology by investigating patient-derived microtumors in microgravity conditions as a tool and base model to evaluate their growth over time.
A high-capacity CubeLab investigation will transport 588 biological samples from our partners at Encapsulate, the University of San Diego Stem Cell Institute, The University of Notre Dame, Mithrilome, and Massachusetts General Hospital. This collection of individual experiments will allow for five different research groups to fly specialized cells, groups of cells, and nanomaterials to screen for the best candidates in which to target further research. Enough statistical evidence will be gathered to match the quality of any ground-based study that could be carried out. Team members will carry out research related to Rett syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, biomanufacturing of health-related products, drug delivery formulations, smart tumor-targeting drug delivery formulations, and brain and gastrointestinal cancer modeling and therapies. An additional 588 samples with remain on Earth for parallel studies.
Three student teams from Higher Orbits will conduct investigations in a single 4U CubeLab utilizing a modular compartment design. The Quest Institute will also facilitate 15 student investigations in a 9U CubeLab.
CRS-30 is scheduled to dock the ISS on March 23, after which payloads will be installed and Space Tango investigators will receive data in real-time.
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About Space Tango
Space Tango is an industry leader in automated systems in the pursuit of health and technology manufacturing in space. Since 2017 Space Tango has provided facilities to support iterative R&D and manufacturing in microgravity environments. Through an integrated and intuitive approach, Space Tango works alongside its diverse partner base to embrace pathways to production. For more information, visit www.spacetango.com.
Media Inquiries Danielle Rosales | press@spacetango.com | (833) 428-2646