Genesis of the New Space Age: How We Are Making Our LEO Mission Possible as Agrochemical Engineers from Hungary
Bence Mátyás
Founder and CEO of @ Genesis SFL, leading the MayaSat space biology missions and expanding access to space in Eastern and Central Europe.
In the past, space exploration was primarily the domain of government agencies like NASA, ESA, and Roscosmos. These agencies conducted missions with long timelines and hefty budgets, while private companies were mainly contractors, supplying technology and hardware (Aerospace Security).
The landscape has shifted dramatically. Today, private companies are leading the charge in both launch frequency and technological innovation, especially outside of China (Resources for the Future).
This transformation is often portrayed in the media as a groundbreaking shift. However, to truly understand how accessible space is, we need to look beyond the headlines. I share this from personal experience, reflecting on the challenges and milestones we've encountered.
A New Era of Space Commercialization
Companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab are pioneering this new era. SpaceX, for instance, has revolutionized access to space with its reusable Falcon 9 rockets, dramatically cutting launch costs.
This has made space more accessible, enabling a diverse range of participants—from small startups to academic institutions—to innovate rapidly and move from concept to launch in record time (New Space Economy). This is a far cry from the past, when space missions were exclusive and prohibitively expensive.
It sounds incredible, right? But when we set out to launch MayaSat-1, our 1 kg payload capacity biological incubator cubesat, about two years ago, we found the process far from straightforward. Despite the optimistic narratives we had read 8-9 years ago, our reality was quite different.
Finding pricing information was a challenge; we only found clear details from SpaceX. Most major launch providers didn’t respond to our inquiries, and when we did receive replies from smaller ones, we were often offered balloon and sub-orbital tests rather than orbital launches. It seemed that our startup status was a barrier to accessing these orbital services.
Even with the increased accessibility of space, the minimum rideshare option at SpaceX still costs around $300,000, whether you're launching a 1 kg CubeSat or a 50 kg satellite.
Although the cost of access to LEO has decreased, it remains significant. For instance, whether you're launching a 1 kg or a 50 kg payload, the price doesn't scale proportionally. Additionally, insurance for these missions can be quite expensive, complicating the financial side of space access.
While pricing has improved compared to the past, it remains a hurdle for many small and mid-sized companies and researchers. Unlike telecommunications satellites, our MayaSat-1 cubesat, designed to host biological samples, offers value through potential biomarker discoveries at a later time, which led us to explore alternative solutions.
Research on the ISS
The International Space Station (ISS), originally a government-managed project, now supports a variety of private research initiatives. Companies utilize the ISS's unique environment to conduct experiments, develop technologies, and explore commercial opportunities, such as manufacturing in microgravity (New Space Economy) (Resources for the Future).
In 2022, we applied for two tenders to conduct research on the ISS. While both applications were initially accepted, we encountered significant challenges during negotiations, and agreements are still pending after 1.5 years.
Recent announcements from NASA about the ISS’s planned deorbiting have underscored the need to find alternative paths, as this option may not be available in the future (NASA). Realizing this, we turned our focus to the private sector while keeping our ISS research options open.
Genesis SFL and The Exploration Company: Our Collaborative Journey
Genesis SFL began with a focus on agricultural biotechnology, developing portable plant laboratories for both space, and agricultural utilizations under the Genoplant brand . With support from the European Space Agency 's Business Incubation Centre, we developed the Genoplant Analyzer, a portable leaf analyzer based on microchip electrophoresis.
Genoplant Analyzer avoids traditional moving parts like pumps, making it well-suited for space missions. Instead, we use high voltage sequencing to separate ions and molecules in plant liquids based on their charge and size—a technique similar to the one used in the Rosalind Franklin rover for the upcoming ExoMars program to detect organics on the red planet's surface.
In, late 2022 we expanded into upstream research with the MayaSat-1 cubesat to study the effects of space travel on biological samples.
Navigating the complexities of government contracts led us back to the private sector for a more streamlined approach.
Our partnership with The Exploration Company has been crucial. They are working to democratize space research by building and testing large cargo-capacity spacecraft capable of returning to Earth after space missions.
领英推荐
Their innovative Nyx space capsule will be integral to our space biology experiment series, showcasing the benefits of collaboration between private entities in pushing the boundaries of space research.
Looking Forward
We are thrilled to support The Exploration Company as they embark on 'Mission Possible.' This mission will be the first of its kind, with the Nyx spacecraft re-entering the atmosphere and performing a splashdown after orbiting Earth three times.
This opportunity allows us to conduct post-mission measurements on Earth, comparing PCR runs and other test results before and after the mission.
Such an achievement would likely have been impossible before TEC's Nyx spacecraft.
Space exploration often involves test launches, and while media portrayals may simplify the process, the reality is more complex. It took us two years just to secure an orbital contract for a relatively small payload, despite claims about how accessible space has become. The TEC team deserves our utmost respect and support for their efforts.
Though this will be TEC's second spaceflight, it represents the beginning of a new era—a technology demonstration where 'Mission Impossible' becomes 'Mission Possible.'
The Future is Collaborative
At Genesis SFL, we feel it is our responsibility to make the process easier for other startups by sharing the challenges we faced over the past two years. In this opinion article, we've discussed only the issues related to contracting and pricing, but we haven't highlighted the numerous scammers we encountered, who offered orbital services without the necessary competence.
For the Mission Possible, we will be transporting 980 biological samples, of which we will need 300 slots. We are offering the remaining slots for ride-share .
If you have small (non-hazardous) items or biological experiments you’d like to send to space, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We offer reservation options, including forthcoming part-payment plans, and provide detailed information about our mission schedule on our website. Additionally, you can arrange meetings with us through Calendly; all relevant details are available on our research rideshare page.
Submission deadline
Please note that the deadline for sample submissions is August 31, 2024, as the TEC team will soon begin preparing and sealing the Nyx capsule with all payloads inside.
As we prepare for our mission , we at Genesis SFL are pleased to be part of this new era of space exploration. This collaboration is not just about commercial interests; it's about expanding humanity's understanding of space and unlocking new possibilities for all.
Statement
This article reflects our experiences and perspectives. The Exploration Company did not solicit or fund this piece. It stands as a testament to the genuine and mutually beneficial relationships forming in the private space sector.
Bence Mátyás, Ph.D
Founder, CEO
Genesis SFL
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