Redwire Launches Additional Colloids Experiments to the ISS

Research Redwire Launches Additional Colloids Experiments to the ISS

2026-04-30 Source: Press release Redwire Corporation | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

Redwire launched additional colloids experiments to the International Space Station (ISS) onboard a recent commercial resupply mission to the ISS.

The modules support Redwire’s Colloidal Solids Instrument (COLIS), a powerful research platform advancing our understanding of diseases, drug development, advanced materials, industrial processes, and biomedical applications.

Why study colloids in space?

When sunscreen thickens over time or mayonnaise slowly separates in your fridge, it’s not just bad luck. It’s because the tiny particles inside these materials rearrange themselves in ways scientists still don’t fully understand. Unlocking how materials form, evolve, and sometimes fail at the microscopic level is essential for breakthroughs across pharmaceuticals, materials science, and manufacturing.

But there’s a challenge: On Earth, gravity constantly pulls particles downward, causing them to settle, clump, or separate. This makes it difficult to observe how materials naturally organise and behave.
That’s why scientists take this research to microgravity.

About COLIS

New colloids modules support Redwire’s Colloidal Solids Instrument (COLIS), a powerful research platform advancing our understanding of diseases, drug development, advanced materials, industrial processes, and biomedical applications.(Source: Redwire) — New colloids modules support Redwire’s Colloidal Solids Instrument (COLIS), a powerful research platform advancing our understanding of diseases, drug development, advanced materials, industrial processes, and biomedical applications.
(Source: Redwire)

Developed by Redwire for the European Space Agency (ESA), COLIS is a state-of-the-art optical laboratory designed to study colloids, materials made of tiny particles suspended in a fluid, without the interference of gravity. COLIS has been operating on the ISS since August 2024, and Redwire continues to design and manufacture new cell modules that regularly fly to station to support a wide range of investigations.

Previous COLIS investigations

Redwire has launched several types of cell modules for COLIS, including:

Colloidal glass sample (August 4, 2024): Colloidal glass mimics the behavior of molecular glass in a simpler form. This investigation improved understanding of how glasses form and behave, informing the development of new materials and shedding light on natural processes.
Protein solution (August 24, 2025): Studying protein crystallisation in microgravity helps scientists observe crystal formation without gravitational interference. These insights can support improved drug formulations and delivery systems.
Gel sample (August 24, 2025): Research into gel behavior in microgravity may lead to better formulations for gels and emulsions used in food, cosmetics, and other consumer products.

New cell modules launch to the ISS

On April 11, 2026, two new COLIS cell modules launched to the ISS onboard NASA’s Northrup Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission. Both contain new protein samples that will be used to study how proteins crystallise in microgravity. This research could inform future drug development and biomedical innovation.

The insights generated by COLIS could extend far beyond fundamental science. By revealing how soft materials self-organise and evolve, this research might help pave the way for safer, stronger, and more sustainable materials used in everyday life on Earth.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.