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We’ve gathered answers to the most common questions about what we do at SPARK Microgravity.
Microgravity (near weightlessness) allows biological and chemical processes to occur without the distortion of Earth’s gravity. For example, cells can grow in three dimensions forming organoids or tumor spheroids that mimic human physiology better.Proteins crystallize more perfectly, which can improve drug design. We often see new phenomena or accelerated results in microgravity – such as heightened sensitivity of cancer cells to drugs or faster formation of tissue structures – giving researchers insights that are difficult or impossible to obtain on Earth.
Generally, planning and preparation take a few months. After that, we align with the launch schedules as there are launches to the ISS and other platforms every few months. A typical timeline from project start to receiving results is about 8 to 12 months. This includes experiment design (1–2 months), experiment integration and safety checks, (1–2 months), launch wait time (depending on manifest, often 3–6 months), the experiment running in orbit (usually 1–4 weeks, depending on what’s being tested), and then data analysis and sample return (1 month). For multi-mission programs or complex projects, timelines are longer, but we strive to accelerate wherever possible. We’ll give you a clear schedule in our proposal, and we handle all the coordination to meet that timeline.
Confidentiality is fundamental to our work. From day one, we sign NDAs and ensure all communications are secure. Any hardware we develop specifically for your experiment can be owned by you or exclusively licensed – we won’t share it with competitors. Data transmitted from your experiment is encrypted and goes directly to our secure servers; we then share it only with your designated team. We have strict internal protocols to compartmentalize project knowledge. In short, your IP remains yours, and we operate as a trusted partner. We’re happy to comply with any specific data security requirements your company has as well.
Safety and reliability are our top priorities. All experiments go through rigorous testing on the ground – including simulations of launch vibration, microgravity analog tests, and so on – to ensure they will operate as intended. We build in redundancies (backup systems) for critical functions. In the unlikely event of an issue on orbit, our operations team is monitoring live and can often send commands or adjustments. We also typically fly a ground control experiment in parallel on Earth so that if something unexpected happens in space, you still have useful comparative data. While spaceflight always carries some risk, we approach each mission with a “failure is not an option” mentality and have maintained a 100% success rate in delivering experiment data so far.
We support a broad range of life science and materials science experiments relevant to pharma and biotech. This includes cell biology (cancer cells, stem cells, immune cells), 3D tissue/organoid culture, drug compound crystallization, biomanufacturing processes, and even small animal or microbiology studies (on a case-by-case basis). If your experiment involves biology or chemistry that can fit in a shoebox-sized container (or larger, if needed), we can likely send it to orbit. We’ll work with you to adapt your specific research needs into a space-compatible experiment design.
We have a strong focus on oncology – many of our current projects involve cancer biology and therapeutics. However, we welcome and have experience in other areas: immunology (e.g. antibody behavior in microgravity), neurology (neural cell growth and aggregation), regenerative medicine (tissue engineering, wound healing in space), and infectious disease (pathogen studies). We also handle organoids for various organs (not just tumors) – for instance, liver organoids to study metabolism, or heart tissue to study cardiovascular effects. If you have a unique application, we’re excited to explore it with you.
Yes. In fact, 3D organoids are central to SPARK’s approach. We can fly patient-derived tumor organoids or spheroids grown from established cancer cell lines. Using organoids allows us to capture patient-like tumor behavior (such as heterogeneity and histological architecture) during microgravity experiments. We work with our clients to select or develop the right model for their research question. Whether it’s a colon cancer organoid or a glioblastoma neurosphere, we ensure it’s optimized for spaceflight culture. This also extends to other biologics. For example, co-cultures (tumor cells with immune cells) are in scope if they fit within payload constraints. We are continually expanding the roster of supported models, so feel free to inquire about your specific needs.
It begins with a simple conversation. You can fill out the “Start Your Mission” form on our site or contact us directly via email/phone. We’ll arrange an initial consultation (free of charge) to understand your goals. After signing a mutual NDA (to protect both parties’ confidential information), our scientists will discuss potential approaches and feasibility. We then provide a detailed proposal outlining the experiment plan, timeline, and cost. Once you approve, our team kicks off the project planning and keeps you involved at every key step. From there, we handle the heavy lifting and launch your research to orbit!
Partner with SPARK Microgravity to get better tumor models for cancer research.
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