The NanoRacks Plate Reader allows for in-orbit microbiological analysis, increasing life science and biological research. (Credit: NASA)
Xconomy reports that NanoRacks had a successful fund-raising round to fund an external experiments platform on the International Space Station:
NanoRacks, the Houston space-science startup located a stone’s throw away from NASA, announced today it has raised $2.6 million. Emerge, a Brussels-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage startups in telecom and e-commerce, is the lead investor to the tune of $1.5 million in the Series A round for NanoRacks. Chris Cummins, NanoRacks’ CFO, says the remainder of the investment is largely from individuals from Texas and California.
HOUSTON, TX, June 6, 2013 (NanoRacks PR) – NanoRacks LLC announced today positive test results on the ability to grow protein crystals in space using research hardware commonly used by biotechnology companies. The experiment was recently conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS) by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and the resulting protein crystals were returned from space with crystals intact for scientific examination.
This proof of concept study demonstrates that a much larger number of X-ray crystallization experiments are now accessible to scientists in space, providing better structural models of disease-causing proteins. NanoRacks’ innovative hardware and their commitment to collaboration has allowed scientists to rethink the way scientific experimentation is done in space.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sen. Bill Nelson PR) - Not just tourism, but university classes in space are right around the corner. That’s what came to light in testimony today at a U.S. Senate hearing on the looming commercial uses of space.
In fact, at least one well-known American university already has made a down payment on a Virgin Galactic flight. That’s the company that just two weeks ago launched SpaceShip Two and completed its first rocket-powered flight.
“Purdue has a down payment on a spot on a Virgin Galactic science flight,” Dr. Steven Collicott testified at Thursday’s Senate hearing. “ … And I do look forward to the day a potential Ph.D. student walks into my office and says, “Well, professor, I flew into space for my Master’s degree. What do you have to offer?”
Some morning highlights of the first day of the Next-generation Suborbital Researchers Conference 2013 here in Broomfield, Colo.:
Addressing the group via video, NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver said NASA is not excluding the possibility that the Flight Opportunities program would fund human researchers on suborbital fights. Previously, NASA had said it would purchase flights for payloads but not for researchers to fly.
Garver provided no details on precisely what safety standards the space agency would require prior to paying for researchers to fly.
NASA has spent $29.5 million on the Flight Opportunities program over the past three years, and it has requested an additional $15 million for FY2014. In 2010, Garver addressed the first NSRC and said NASA would seek $15 million per year over 5 years, but the agency has not received all the funding it requested.
The deputy administrator also announced plans for a joint solicitation for science and tech payloads to be issued by NASA’s Science and Space Tech directorates. The solicitation is expected to be pushed in late summer or early fall.
XCOR Chief Operating Officer Andrew Nelson said that while satellites have been removed from the U.S. Munitions List in draft regulations, crew spacecraft have been added to it. Calling the decision a major step backward, Nelson urged urged audience members to oppose this move during the on-going public comments period.
Virgin Galactic Vice President for Special Projects Will Pomerantz said the company has taken reservations for nearly 600 people worldwide for flights aboard the company’s SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicles.
Pomerantz added that NanoRacks has delivered the first payload racks for flying experiments aboard the space plane.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL., May 22, 2013 (CASIS PR) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the nonprofit organization managing research on board the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, today issued a solicitation for proposals in non-embryonic stem cell research.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL. (May 16, 2013) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the nonprofit organization promoting and managing research onboard the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, today announced an additional research grant award totaling approximately $200,000 for advancing protein crystallization in microgravity.
MOJAVE, CA (XCOR PR) – For the length of the Next Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference (June 3-5) in Broomfield, CO, XCOR will offer a special 2 for 1 deal on all payload purchases. This offer is exclusive to conference attendees.
SpaceShipTwo in its first powered flight over Mojave.
By Douglas Messier Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
Last week, I got to see close-up views of the power of the emerging suborbital space industry in two very different locations some 300 miles apart.
Monday was all about SpaceShipTwo, which lit its engine for the first time over the dusty Mojave Desert and provided viewers on the ground with a 16-second display of flames and black smoke. The little space plane soared skyward above its WhiteKnightTwo carrier plane before gliding to a perfect landing on the center line of Runway 30 at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL., May 9, 2013 (CASIS PR) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the nonprofit organization managing research onboard the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, today announced the funding of an unsolicited proposal in the field of nanofluidics.
Drs. Alessandro Grattoni and Mauro Ferrari at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute will receive approximately $200,000 in CASIS funding for their project, which seeks to determine the physical phenomena involved in nanofluidics.
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