Milestone in space reproduction

 

In a pioneering move toward enabling independent life beyond Earth, Dutch biotech-aerospace company SpaceBorn United has confirmed the successful launch and data return from the world’s first IVF minilab prototype designed specifically for human reproduction research in space.

The mission – launched 21 April 2025 on SpaceX’s Bandwagon-3 – marks the first time a system engineered to support early stages of human reproduction has been deployed in orbit.

Spaceborn says this marks an important step toward realising ARTIS (Assisted Reproductive Technology In Space), a fully automated IVF minilab designed to safely enable conception and early embryonic development in space. It also lays critical groundwork for independent future human settlements beyond Earth, and advancements in fertility treatments on Earth.

Telemetry confirmed that ARTIS’ core systems – including its custom-designed microfluidic device and life-support systems – survived the stresses of launch and orbital deployment intact.

Onboard yeast cultures (in subsequent missions, mouse embryos will be used) survived successfully, validating key life support mechanisms with onboard sensors and images confirming all internal components remained secured and operational despite partial visual degradation.

“This is a milestone for SpaceBorn United and has opened a new chapter in reproductive space science,” said Dr Egbert Edelbroek, CEO of SpaceBorn United. “For the first time, hardware built specifically to enable stages of human reproduction in space has been tested in space."

Although no human biological material was included in this inaugural flight, the ARTIS minilab has been designed to provide the pressure, temperature and microfluidic processes essential for IVF and early embryo development.

The minilab was developed in collaboration with UK-based Frontier Space Technologies, using subsystems from its autonomous ‘lab-in-a-box’ technology.

Dr Angelo Vermeulen, CTO at SpaceBorn, stated: “This first systems test in space is the start of our aim to reshape the future of human reproduction, both in space and on Earth. It shows that our approach is technically feasible and ready to take the next steps.”

The next mission, expected in early 2026, is now in full development and will focus on sending mouse embryos to space to validate a further matured ARTIS prototype.

Eventually the ARTIS minilab will enable conception in space – once in orbit around Earth, micro pumps will reallocate sperm cells to oocytes to cause fertilisation.

The goal, according to Spaceborn, is to enable early embryo development up to the blastocyst stage and identify beneficial processes that improve IVF on Earth.

In these upcoming missions – currently in preparation with new commercial space launchers, including Sidereus in Italy and Skyroot in India – critical data on both the embryos and the technical system will be collected in real-time and analysed again after their return to Earth.

About SpaceBorn United SpaceBorn United is the first organisation dedicated to enabling human conception and subsequent stages of reproduction in space.

Founded in the Netherlands, the company merges biotech, reproductive medicine, aerospace engineering and ethical oversight to develop the world’s first Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) designed for off-Earth environments.

Its work also accelerates innovation in IVF practices for use on Earth, offering hope and new options for families everywhere.

SpaceBorn United closely collaborates with various research and industry partners in Europe, the US and Asia. The company is supported by an international team of leading experts.

Conceived in space

DUTCH-based space research firm SpaceBorn United is targeting a ground-breaking space mission in the first half of 2023 that will see the fertilisation of rodent embryos in artificial gravity followed by a pregnancy and birth in a laboratory back on Earth.

Using SpaceBorn’s new ‘Space-Embryo-Incubator’ flying in low Earth orbit (LEO), several mice will become the first animals in history to be conceived and born in this way.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by SpaceBorn United CEO Egbert Edelbroek and Izmir Yamin, CEO of Malaysian re-entry capsule manufacturer Independence-X Aerospace (IDXA), at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Paris, France.

The agreement paves the way for an initial flight next year of the ARTIS (Assisted Reproduction Technology in Space) mission which will use Independence-X’s low-cost launch service and re-entry capsule.

“Our ARTIS prototype is in full development to prepare for the first test flight. Our goal to enable safe embryo development in space starts with testing the prototype in space with mouse sperm and oocytes,” said Dr Edelbroek.

“A series of ARTIS missions in the coming years will enable research on partial gravity effects on embryo development and help us move towards the ultimate goal of human reproduction and childbirth in space.”

The payload contains male and female reproduction cells and, once deployed in LEO, the embryos are automatically impregnated and start developing in an artificial, Earth-like level of gravity. After five days the incubator is returned to Earth via the Independence-X re-entry vehicle, known as MERCAP (Microgravity Experiment Re-entry Capsule).

In laboratory conditions back on Earth, the embryos will be placed in healthy mouse pups for gestation and birth to occur, their development monitored and compared to control samples.

Independence-X is a Malaysian space company that has developed a small launch vehicle called DNLV (Dedicated Nano Launch Vehicle) with a maximum payload of 200 kg and capable of putting satellites into LEO.

“The signing of the MoA between Independence-X Aerospace and SpaceBorn United marks a historic moment in the space industry,” says Mohd Izmir bin Yamin, Founder, CEO & CTO.

“For the first time an unmanned orbital laboratory with re-entry capabilities is being flown for bio tech research and we see this as a key to unlock potential for the human expansion into the deep space.

“Independence-X will provide the re-entry vehicle and the on board support system, SpaceBorn United will provide the precious microfluidic payload to carry out the experiment in space,” he added.

“This MOA will mark the beginning of human reproduction in Space and the next step for humanity to become a multi-planetary species.”

IDXA is a company of industry professionals and academics based at Sendayan Metropark in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. As well as serving the global space industry, it aims to create a Malaysian space hub and contribute to socio-economic development of the region through space-related technologies.

SpaceBorn United, based in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, describes itself as the first bio-tech and mission development company working to make human conception and embryo development in space feasible, eventually enabling human pregnancy and birth in space.

Dr Edelbroek, who is also an MP of the space nation Asgardia which was formed in 2016 and has the stated goal of facilitating the first human birth in space, added: “If humanity wants to become a multi-planetary species we also need to learn how to reproduce in space. This is what we are working towards.”

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In the photo above: MOA signing ceremony in Paris. Pictured are (standing from left): Nor Azila Wirda binti Mohd Din (Deputy Director, MIDA Paris), Abdullah Ma'amor bin Ibrahim, Minister Counsellor (Malaysian Embassy, France), Mohd Fadeli bin Md Halid (Product Engineer, Independence-X Aerospace), Afiq bin Mohd Rashdi (Control Systems Engineer, Independence-X Aerospace), Dr Aqeel Shamsul (CEO, Frontier Space Technologies Ltd) and Mat Zalasiewicz (CTO, Frontier Space Technologies Ltd). Sitting: Mohd Izmir bin Yamin (Founder, CEO & CTO, Independence-X Aerospace) and Dr Egbert Edelbroek (Founder & CEO, SpaceBorn United).

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Editor's note: given the somewhat controversial nature of engineering conceptions in space and its long-term implications, I am suprised this story, from the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Paris, did not get more traction and/or star billing in some of the tabloid press. A plan to conceive mice in Earth orbit and then have them born in a laboratory back on Earth would write its own headlines!