Orbital Life Sciences: UK infrastructure & Capability

Currently, the UK lacks the capacity to launch and recover life science experiments in Low Earth Orbit for comparative studies. Furthermore, there are limitations in designing these experiments and their terrestrial counterparts, which can yield less reliable results. The space sector is rapidly growing in the UK, and there is a clear ambition to expand the life science dimension of this sector. This is evidenced by the recent investment of the UK government in an all-British space flight with Axiom Space. The British government announced up to £15 million in commercial funding that would become available when the Axiom space mission proceeds.

Our ongoing research addresses five fundamental areas for assuring high-quality orbital life science research programmes can succeed:

(a) Development of the End-to-End Life Cycle for orbital life sciences research, determining the critical requirements to assure experimental provenance and quarantine, regulatory mission alignment and Mission Safety Assurance.

(b) Establishing research standards and developing a best practice toolkit for the design of orbital experiments and their corresponding twin comparative experiments on Earth.

(c) Generating the critical regulatory framework to support the Civil Aviation Authority develop the necessary regulatory guidance for these types of space missions launching from, and returning to, the UK.

(d) Determining the environmental and dynamic mission management requirements for experimental provenance and quarantine throughout the mission life cycle.