Scientific Publications

2026

Biological spaceflight experiments place exceptionally high demands on reliability and reproducibility. This publication presents LIFT, a modular and reusable experimental platform capable of cultivating, monitoring, and automatically chemically fixing a wide variety of biological samples under tightly controlled conditions. Having been successfully deployed on multiple sounding rocket missions, LIFT establishes a standardized foundation for future microgravity research and significantly simplifies the development of new biological spaceflight experiments.

Neuronal cells are among the most radiosensitive tissues in the human body and respond particularly sensitively to ionizing radiation. This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of the radiation response of the widely used neuronal SH-SY5Y cell line, revealing distinct differences between conventional X-rays and high-energy heavy ions. The resulting reference data establish an important foundation for future research in radiation biology, space medicine, and particle therapy.

The reliable measurement of cellular stress responses is essential for many areas of biomedical research. This study presents the first systematic comparison of two reporter systems, evaluating their sensitivity, accuracy, and suitability for different experimental applications. The findings provide researchers with valuable guidance in selecting the most appropriate analytical tool for their specific research questions and contribute to more efficient experimental design.

2025

MiniFix was developed to make biological experiments in space simpler, more flexible, and more reliable. The fully 3D-printed system can be readily adapted to a wide range of research applications and enables the automated chemical fixation of delicate biological samples under microgravity conditions. With its modular architecture and successful deployment on multiple space missions, MiniFix provides a versatile platform for future biological research in space.

This publication presents the development of a modular computing platform for spaceflight experiments based on commercially available off-the-shelf hardware. It enables both the observation of biological samples and the rapid integration of new sensor technologies, and has already been successfully deployed on a sounding rocket mission. The system provides a flexible and cost-effective foundation for future scientific space missions.

This publication presents the development of a universal simulation platform for scientific spaceflight experiments. It enables the realistic simulation of a wide variety of spaceflight systems, supporting the development, testing, and reliable operation of new scientific payloads. Its modular architecture provides a flexible foundation for future research missions on sounding rockets, lunar landers, and other spaceflight platforms.

Scientific space missions have traditionally relied on proprietary mission control systems, limiting their adaptability, reproducibility, and reuse. This publication introduces the first fully open-source mission control platform, enabling telemetry, telecommand, and mission operations across multiple locations. Its successful deployment during a sounding rocket mission demonstrates how open software can make future space missions more flexible, reproducible, and accessible to research institutions worldwide.

Sensitive biological experiments must be maintained under precisely controlled conditions throughout transport, pre-launch operations, and payload integration to ensure scientifically meaningful results. The developed transport incubator combines active temperature control, uninterrupted power supply, and mechanical protection within a modular platform, providing continuous environmental support for complex spaceflight experiments—from the laboratory to post-flight recovery. By bridging this critical gap in mission logistics, it establishes an essential foundation for reproducible biological research under spaceflight conditions.

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2022

The SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line is one of the world’s most widely used in vitro models in neuroscience research. This publication systematically evaluates established cultivation methods, investigates their impact on cell growth and long-term culture stability, and introduces an optimized protocol for long-term maintenance. By establishing a reliable foundation for reproducible experiments, it improves the comparability of future studies, particularly in neuroscience and Parkinson’s disease research.

Following injuries to the brain or spinal cord, specialized support cells of the nervous system, known as astrocytes, become highly reactive—a response that can hinder the regeneration of damaged neurons. This study investigated how increased gravitational loading influences this cellular behavior. The findings demonstrate that hypergravity attenuates astrocyte reactivity, providing new insights into the fundamental mechanisms of cellular regulation and opening new perspectives for therapies aimed at promoting neural regeneration.

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2020

Embryonic stem cells form the foundation for the development of all organs in a living organism. This study investigates how ionizing radiation affects their development and differentiation. The findings demonstrate that radiation not only impairs cellular function but can also disrupt critical developmental processes of the cardiovascular, nervous, and other organ systems. By providing new insights into the biological effects of radiation during early development, this work contributes to a better understanding of radiation-induced malformations and developmental disorders.

2018

How cells respond to radiation is a key determinant of both their survival and the development of tissue damage. This study demonstrates that high-energy heavy ions—encountered both in space and in modern particle therapy—trigger particularly pronounced cellular stress and inflammatory responses. The findings improve our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying different radiation qualities and provide an important foundation for both radiation protection and the continued advancement of particle therapy.

Space radiation represents one of the greatest health challenges for future long-duration missions. This study investigates the role of the key signaling pathway NF-κB in the cellular response to different types of ionizing radiation. The findings demonstrate that biological responses depend strongly on radiation quality, providing important insights for protecting astronauts from radiation exposure and for advancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying modern particle therapy.

To better understand the biological effects of high-energy radiation, a novel fluorescent reporter system was developed that can detect cellular responses to individual particle hits. This remarkable increase in sensitivity provides unprecedented insights into the cellular response to heavy-ion radiation and establishes a valuable tool for research in space medicine and radiation biology.

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2015

Before biological experiments can be conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS), every aspect of the experimental hardware and operational procedures must function with absolute reliability. This publication documents the successful development and validation of an automated experimental platform capable of cultivating, irradiating, and chemically fixing cell cultures on the ISS. By demonstrating the feasibility of this approach, the study established a crucial foundation for investigating the combined effects of space radiation and microgravity on human cells.

To better investigate the biological effects of space radiation, a novel fluorescent cell model was developed that makes radiation-induced damage directly visible. The intensity of its red fluorescent signal reflects cellular growth and viability, enabling rapid assessment of the biological effectiveness of different radiation qualities. This powerful biosensor provides radiation biology and space medicine with a valuable tool for studying the risks of ionizing radiation with greater precision.

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2013

Clean drinking water is one of the cornerstones of public health. The Tox-Box research project developed a novel scientific framework for the more reliable assessment of potential health risks posed by insufficiently characterized trace contaminants in drinking water. The results provide an important foundation for future risk assessment strategies and contribute to ensuring the long-term safety of drinking water supplies.