PIL-BOX
Small automated labs that let drug companies grow crystals of their medicines on the space station, where earlier studies suggest crystals can form more uniformly.
Why it matters
Understanding how a drug crystallizes can help companies design and improve medicines. Earlier spaceflight studies suggest crystals grown in microgravity can have fewer flaws, which could give drug makers results that are hard to get on the ground.
How the technology works
PIL-BOX comes in versions for large-molecule drugs, small-molecule drugs and live microscopy of crystal growth, using automated fluid mixing. Units fly to the space station on cargo missions.
More than 50 had flown since November 2023, per Redwire's Q2 2026 report.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction