Enabling the Business of Science in the New Commercial Space Market
Providing Life, Technical, & Space Science Services
Enhancing Research Outcomes Through the Business of Science Company Proprietary
Why go to space?
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Why go to space? (Biological Perspective)
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Environmental Stress = Biological Response
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
GRAVITY is the single common environmental stress for all life on Earth.
https://jurassiccoast.org/learning/jurassic-coast-timeline/
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
GRAVITY is the single common environmental stress for all life on Earth. So‌ Let’s remove gravity! https://jurassiccoast.org/learning/jurassic-coast-timeline/
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
• Pathogens lose or gain pathogenicity
GRAVITY is the single common • Altering environmental stressors induce production of pharmaceuticalenvironmental important metabolites stress for all • Microgravity alters microbial growth and metabolic rates through life on Earth. epigenomic-based responses producing novel phenotypes
• Stem cells change proliferation and differentiation rates
So… Let’s remove gravity!
https://jurassiccoast.org/learning/jurassic-coast-timeline/
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
Why go to space? (Chemical and Physical Perspective)
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Chemistry • Physics/Engineering interfaces have been in the limelight of space-based innovation (cordless power tools $41B) • Last 30 years has brought powerful physical/chemical measurement tools at new levels of granularity
August Kekule – 1858 theory of chemical structure
• Example: AFM image of reaction kinetics for catalysis - building blocks for vast majority of the built environment (catalysis $20B Industry) • How does microgravity affect chemical tools to enhance processes?
Lawrence Berkley National Lab
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
Crystallization • Most vital chemical step to purify final products or intermediates in manufacturing processes • Example: Insulin (cost has doubled) • 1G – heavier fluids sink and lighter fluids rise, drives convection – larger molecules don’t nucleate (proteins)
NASA
• 0G – crystals of larger molecules are now free to grow at will as convection is absent – changes size and purity • What molecules that are impossible to crystallize on earth? Scale? Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
Nanoparticle Self-Assembly • Nanos present novel properties that are actively explored and utilized by industry • $25B industry in drug delivery, augmenting current materials, sunscreen • Manufacturing is often not reliable and can get a wide range of materials that change material properties (Ex: gadolinium, carbon nanotubes) • Achieving uniform distribution of nanoparticles in 0G and can be assembled more controllably in space. (Ex: fluoride-based fiber optics ZBLAN)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-017-0004-3
NASA
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
High Performance Electrolytes and Polymer Composites • Use-cases arise that would not arise on earth. • Operational constraints on the ISS that require that batteries on certain equipment operate at extremely low temps (-100°C for bio-stowage) • Batteries require electrolytes for conductivity but crystallize out at such low temperatures (stops Li+ flow) • How do we get a battery to recover after exposure and what insulator materials have high impact strength at low temps?
HOBO Bluetooth logger
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
Rhodium Scientific, LLC
Introduction to Rhodium Scientific, LLC
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
Background • Founded in 2014 by Olivia Holzhaus (President and CEO) to provide Science Consulting, Equipment Optimization, and Laboratory Facility Management to Academic, Government, and Commercial Clients. • Classified as a woman-owned, Hispanic-owned, small business.
Rhodium’s office and lab is located next to Johnson Space Center
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
Services Commercial Space Services
For Academic, Commercial, and Government Entities
• ISS National Lab Implementation Partner • Facilitate, develop, and commercialize Biotechnology and Life Science Research in Space through: • • • • • •
Advanced project translation to space flight configurations Identify and support funding efforts Industry standard quality assurance Flight hardware acquisition, brokerage, and customization Project management, mission integration & operation Support commercialization efforts for research products
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
Rhodium Scientific, LLC
Advanced Space Research Services
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
Solving Barriers to Entry From projects to products
“Science First” Strategy
• First ISS National Lab Implementation Partner with a primary focus on highlevel science development and industry-level quality assurance, connecting researchers with the commercial space industry.
Dedicated and Experienced Science Leadership
• Effective communication with researchers • Experience in remote science planning and operation • Deep understanding of science protocols and quality assurance
Science
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
Solving Barriers to Entry Demystifying flight hardware selection
Hardware Acquisition, Brokerage, and Customization Services
• Identify and acquire flight-proven hardware that provides the best fit for the science objectives • Strategic collaborations with established hardware developers • Capable of certifying new and modified flight hardware to increase research capabilities
Credit: NASA
NASA Photo ID: 0101828
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
Solving Barriers to Entry Mission transparency
Interactive Mission Integration & Operations
• Ensuring flight operations match with science objectives • Developing flight procedures that maximize scientific value while reducing payload integration risk • Inclusion of quality assurance during flight operations
Credit: NASA
NASA Photo ID: jsc2018e059572_alt
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
Solving Barriers to Entry Expanding the space economy
Increasing Traditional and Non-Traditional Funding Potential
• Providing strategic proposal development to enhance project quality • Connecting funding sources to research groups
Improving Product Market Value
• Supporting product transitions to marketplace • Implementing quality assurance throughout a project lifecycle to increase Return On Investment
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary
Partnership Opportunities Exploring the possibilities
Rhodium Scientific aims to enable and facilitate the State of Alabama's space-research industry by providing a turnkey approach to microgravity project development for forward leaning researchers. We seek to partner with academic, commercial, and government scientists to translate low Earth orbit projects into terrestrial products.
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services
Photo Credit: R.P. Oates
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Contact Information
1300 Bay Area Boulevard, Suite B275-5 Houston, Texas 77058
For further inquiries please contact:
Dr. Heath J. Mills, heath@rhodiumscientific.com
Dr. R.P. Oates, rp@rhodiumscientific.com Enhancing Research Outcomes Through the Business of Science
Life, Technical, & Space Science Services Company Proprietary