Company - Space BD
Product/Service
- Classification
- Miscellaneous
- Category
- ISS Utilization Service
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
In-Space Production
In-Space Manufacturing
- Status
- Active
- First launch
- 2021
We offer protein crystal growth experiment services using Internal Multipurpose Facilities on Kibo. The microgravity environment of space enables high-quality protein crystallization, and saves on time and costs in the drug development process.
Now, Space BD is inheriting those technologies as the sole private business partner and started the global expansion and commercializaion as of May, 2021. The microgravity environment unique to space allows growing the high-quality protein crystals (including protein-protein/protein-ligand complex crystals) that are difficult to achieve on the ground. (diffraction resolution can be improved to less than 1.0Å). Therefore, there is a higher chance of obtaining high-quality crystals with well-ordered molecules.
ISS Exposed Envrionment Experiment
ISS Internal Microgravity Experiment
Space Delivery Project
Space Delivery Project -RETURN to EARTH- English Ver.
Low Earth Orbit Versatile Experimental System Technology
The main features of the experimental device are as follows:
- A highly versatilel system that could be applied to diverse experiments such as protein crystallization and cell research
- An experiment process that facilitates semi-automation and ground operation minimizes the labor time of astronauts and dramatically reduces preparation time and experimental costs
- An user-friendly design allowing space experiments that are an extension of experiments conducted on the ground
Through the development of this technology, the experimental environment would become easier to use for an increasing number of research institutions and corporations, and more commercial firms could be expected to develop projects and businesses utilizing LEO.
Status Comment / Notes
As of 2024, offers protein crystal growth experiment services, but does not grow them itself as a business line.
Sources
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News, Research, Projects and Patents
Title | Type | Date | Summary |
---|---|---|---|
JAXA Introduces a New Framework in High Quality Protein Crystal Growth Project Service ― Private business partner to produce results together ― | Project | 2021-05-10 | > JAXA has conducted the high quality protein crystal growth (PCG) experiments onboard the International Space Station (ISS) over ten years. In this project, JAXA has developed and utilized its own crystallization techniques, which is unique to Japan, and produced various results, which accelerate new drug discoveries. |