Fluids at Altitude Mixing Experiment (FAME)

Redwire sees a demand for on-orbit testing and development of technologies that will produce crystallization protocols for pharma, agriculture, food (flavors and fragrances), and cosmetics. This technology will test the fluidics of a Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory - Bio-crystal Optimization eXperiment’s (PIL-BOX) Dynamic Microscopy Cassette (DMC). The PIL-BOX DMC combines complex, fluid handling controls and real-time optical microscopy into a cassette-based, automated platform. The overall goal of the flight test is to quantify and characterize mixing and fluid filling of voids in microgravity.

Summary of Flight Test
2024-02-29 While we did not achieve our goals during this flight, the experience has provided us with valuable insights and learning opportunities. These lessons will guide our future efforts and improvements in pursuit of our goals. Our team remains committed to advancing our projects and is already working on strategies to overcome the obstacles encountered.
2024-03-01 Demonstration of electrohydrodynamically-printed insulator and semiconductor upon conducting material.

The PIL-BOX DMC has the potential to provide services in microgravity to pharmaceutical and institutional researchers seeking to use target molecules in their crystalline state to reformulate existing products and/or develop formulations for new products.
The system provides near-real-time observations of crystal growth and morphology which allows for real-time process optimization, identification of causal relationships, and the immediate evaluation of the success of the synthesis process. This provides researchers with empirical data they can immediately compare with data derived from ground experiments.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.