Prof. Komatsu Lab’s Proteins in Space

Chuo University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering Professor Teruyuki Komatsu and his research team, are working to develop high quality protein crystals in space in a joint project with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

It was reported that proteins (artificial blood for pet animals) developed by Ryosuke Funaki (D1) and Wataru Okamoto (B4) of the Komatsu Lab arrived at the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on the International Space Station (ISS), carried by the Soyuz spacecraft launched from Baikonur Space Center, for further protein crystal growth experiments by Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai, that began on March 24.
Protein crystals obtained in the microgravity environment of space will land back on Earth by a Dragon spaceflight (USA) in early May.

For details, please see the links below.

News on JAXA’s website (Japanese)
Komatsu Laboratory (English)