CAS Space joined the Guangzhou Laboratory to conduct research on space pharmaceutical payloads. The near space, specifically altitudes between 100 km and 200 km, presents an ideal setting for microgravity research covering areas such as space manufacturing and biomedicine, according to Fan Na, vice president of CAS Space.
Experiments planned for this research include validating equipment and crystallising both small-molecule drugs and proteins. Xu Qiang stated that modern medicine requires better structural data, stable drug crystal forms, disease models that mimic the human body, and efficient screening tools.
Furthermore, Qiang noted that the microgravity environment can assist proteins in forming higher-quality crystals and provides novel conditions for screening small-molecule drugs. The Lihong series of spacecraft are designed to support space medicine research, biomedical experiments, manufacturing processes, and space tourism.
A prior milestone occurred when the Lihong-1 spacecraft completed a suborbital flight test in northwest China in January 2026. The initial payloads are scheduled to fly aboard the Lihong-2 spacecraft, with suborbital flight validation planned for 2027.
The broader context involves CAS Space establishing a joint space medicine laboratory alongside a hospital. The World Economic Forum report projects the space economy will expand from 630 billion U.S. dollars in 2023 to 1.8 trillion U.S. dollars by 2035.
Fan Na, vice president of CAS Space, stated, "The near space at altitudes of 100 km to 200 km is an ideal experimental environment for microgravity research like space manufacturing and biomedicine".
Fan Na, vice president of CAS Space
