Space Technology and Advanced Research Systems

Space Technology and Advanced Research Systems (STaARS) was a biotechnology company that specialized in providing rapid-access research and manufacturing platforms on the International Space Station (ISS). The company's flagship technology, the STaARS-1 Experiment Facility, enabled a wide range of biomedical investigations, including drug discovery, protein crystallization, and regenerative tissue engineering in a microgravity environment. STaARS supported numerous 'BioScience' missions that explored the effects of spaceflight on bacterial virulence, stem cell differentiation, and cancer cell growth. By leveraging the unique conditions of Low Earth Orbit, the company aimed to accelerate the development of novel therapeutics and medical devices for use on Earth. Although the company's independent operations ceased around 2020, its facilities and mission management services continue to be utilized by the scientific community through its successor, Craig Technologies.