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Rhodium Synthetic Cryptobiology

02/19/2026 | Rhodium Scientific |

Rugged Platforms for Synthetic Biological Component Transport

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Science Objectives for Everyone

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) components are integral to synthetic biology and bioengineering of organisms for a variety of applications, such as producing pharmaceuticals, improving consumer products, and developing clean plastics. Rugged Platforms for Synthetic Biological Component Transport (Rhodium Synthetic Cryptobiology) tests using specific bacterial strains to protect and preserve DNA through the stresses of launch, on-orbit stowage, and return to Earth. Results could help create more rugged biological components and advance these technologies for use in space and in extreme environments on Earth.

The following content was provided by Heath J. Mills, and is maintained by the ISS Research Integration Office.

Experiment Description

Research Overview

  • The objective of the Rugged Platforms for Synthetic Biological Component Transport (Rhodium Synthetic Cryptobiology) investigation is to demonstrate a pipeline to prepare a biological sample that has been engineered to contain specific genetic code (synthetic cryptobiology), transfer of this sample to the International Space Station (ISS), and return the sample to Earth to determine whether the information within the sample was protected.
  • Plasmids, a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) component, are an integral aspect of synthetic biology and are used for a variety of applications including scalable, on-demand bioproduction.
  • Ruggedizing biological components that carry encrypted information is critical to advancing biotechnologies used in extreme environments on Earth and in space.
  • The application of these technologies requires transport of biological components in an inexpensive, simple way over long distances without damaging the health of the biology being used for biomanfacturing.
  • Two biological strains are selected to test the capacity for continued functionality after their exposure to the space environment.

Description

DNA components such as plasmids are an integral aspect of synthetic biology and biological engineering for a variety of applications, including scalable, on-demand bioproduction. Ruggedizing of these applications is critical to advancing biotechnologies that enable humans to withstand the extraordinary physical demands required to operate effectively in extreme environments. The application of these mission-critical technologies depends on tools that require cryptic transport of biological components over long distances. This transport must be inexpensive, simple, and can not compromise or damage DNA sequences required for reproducible biomanufacturing at the point of need.

In the Rugged Platforms for Synthetic Biological Component Transport (Rhodium Synthetic Cryptobiology) mission, two bacterial strains (specific strain names reserved) are tested for the capacity to preserve DNA through the environmental stressors associated with launch, on-orbit stowage, and return to Earth. Both strains have previously shown their ability to maintain DNA integrity and resist accumulation of damage or mutation when exposed to terrestrial extreme environments. Strain 1 is tested in isolation and as part of a native soil crust matrix. Strain 2 is a common laboratory strain with a well-understood model system used in the advancement of preservation methods. A standard plasmid transformation system is used to encode a specific known DNA sequence into the two strains.  While any type of function can be encoded within plasmid DNA, the initial plasmids are engineered with a proof-of-concept antibiotic resistance marker.

The strains containing the engineered plasmids will serve as the prototype for space flight testing. Strains are desiccated and transported to the ISS within the Rhodium Science Chamber Facility (MAPTIS Part Number RhSC-05CT), which supports Rhodium Scientific’s flight-certified hardware Rhodium Cryotubes 0005 (MAPTIS Part Number RhCT-0005). The RhSC-05CTs is stowed at ISS ambient conditions for the duration of the mission (approx. 40 days) and returned to Earth on the first available landing vehicle. Post flight molecular analysis determines the success of this mission. The full environmental temperature profile is monitored during all phases of this mission by Rhodium Scientific’s flight-certified temperature logger, Rhodium Science TempLog 20iB (MAPTIS Part Number RhST-20iB).

The overall project objective is to demonstrate a workable synthetic cryptobiology pipeline for sample preparation, transfer of samples to space, execute experimental procedures in space, and preserve all biological samples that retain a function of interest

Applications

Space Applications

This project tests a process for preparing and transferring samples to space, executing experimental procedures in space, and preserving results. The work could provide a better understanding of how spaceflight affects biological components and help improve bioproduction yield and efficiency during short- and long-term space missions.

Earth Applications

Results from this study could advance on-demand biomanufacturing on Earth by providing biological components that are able to withstand exposure to and transit through extreme environments.

Operations

Operational Requirements and Protocols

The Rhodium Synthetic Cryptobiology investigation uses the ISS Rhodium Science Chamber 05CT Facility (RhSC Facility) supporting Rhodium Cryotube 0005 flight hardware. The Rhodium Science Chamber 05CT Facility provides sufficient volumes for quality-assured sample replicates and controls. After arrival aboard the International Space Station, the RhSC Facility is transferred into an ambient, on-board stowage location for the remainder of the on-orbit phase of the mission. At the end of the ISS mission, the RhSC Facility is returned to Earth in vehicle ambient conditions for delivery to the research team’s laboratory. During all phases of the mission, temperatures are monitored by Rhodium Scientific’s flight-certified sample temperature logger (Rhodium Science TempLog 20iB) remaining with the samples throughout the mission to ensure quality control and temperature profile accuracy.