SpaceX to launch 32 orbital drug labs in 2028 — the largest commercial pharma mission in space

SpaceMD, a subsidiary of the American space infrastructure company Redwire, has signed a contract to conduct pharmaceutical research aboard SpaceX's new Starfall spacecraft. The mission is scheduled for 2028. Microgravity will be used to study drug compounds and accelerate the development of improved medications for patients on Earth.

The spacecraft will be capable of carrying up to 32 units of the Pharmaceutical In-Space Laboratory, or PIL-BOX. This will provide pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and academic researchers with dedicated orbital laboratories. SpaceMD claims this mission could become the largest commercial flight to date specifically focused on microgravity research.

SpaceMD is developing a new version of the PIL-BOX, optimized for use aboard Starfall. The system will automate experiments and allow them to be conducted under controlled conditions. Microgravity enables scientists to study protein crystallization and molecular behavior in ways that are difficult or impossible on Earth due to gravity. This could speed up the creation of more effective and safer drugs.

The mission is part of the growing space research market, where companies are seeking to leverage orbit for scientific purposes. Redwire already has experience in this field, and the partnership with SpaceX ensures access to a reliable launch vehicle. The results of the experiments are expected to contribute to the development of new treatments for a range of diseases.

SpaceMD's work builds on previous Redwire projects, including experiments conducted on the International Space Station. The new PIL-BOX design aims to increase throughput and reliability, allowing more experiments per mission. The company hopes that commercializing orbital research will lower costs and make space-based drug development accessible to a broader set of clients, including smaller biotech startups and university labs. The Starfall spacecraft itself is designed to support multiple payloads and extended mission durations, providing a stable platform for long-term pharmaceutical studies.