The first domestic space medicine research module 'BEE-PC1' developed by Space LiinTech will be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 3:45 p.m. (Korean time) on the 24th.
The launch is part of the 33rd Commercial Resupply Services mission (CRS-33) organized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and SpaceX, and it is the first attempt in the history of space medicine research in Korea.
The BEE-PC1 module is designed as a fully automated system to conduct protein crystallization experiments in a microgravity environment. Unlike previous space bio-experiments, it can conduct experiments independently without the involvement of astronauts.
After arriving at the ISS, the module will conduct experiments for about four months, and the collected data is expected to be analyzed through collaboration with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Harvard Medical School in the United States. This space medicine research is expected to propose new research directions for developing treatments for intractable diseases by creating high-purity protein crystals that are challenging to implement on Earth.
Yoon Hak-soon, CEO of Space LiinTech, noted, "This journey was made possible thanks to the support of the Korea Aerospace Administration's private space enterprise nurturing policy," adding, "This launch will serve as the starting point for space bio research in Korea."
Space LiinTech aims to provide commercial services in space medicine starting in 2027 based on the outcomes of this experiment.