A university professor is set to embark on a groundbreaking journey into space to conduct a science experiment decades in the making. Robert Ferl, the director of the University of Florida’s UF Astraeus Space Institute, will board a Blue Origin New Shepard capsule on Thursday to study the effects of microgravity on cells. This experiment will specifically focus on what happens to biological systems as they leave Earth, experience space, and then return.
Ferl’s space mission will last just 15 minutes, but it will cover significant ground in terms of scientific discovery. The flight will launch from Launch Site One in West Texas, crossing the Karman line—approximately 62 miles above Earth’s surface before making its descent back to the planet. Onboard the flight, Ferl will carry eight specialized fixation tubes designed to provide a safe and controlled environment for plant samples. These tubes will be activated at key points during the mission: two before liftoff, two during the flight, two as the spacecraft reaches microgravity, two before reentry, and two after landing.
This precise timing will allow researchers to capture critical data on how biological organisms, particularly plants, respond to the transition from Earth to space. While Ferl is in space, his colleagues, led by Anna-Lisa Paul, director of the University of Florida’s Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, will monitor the cells’ activity from the ground in real-time.
This mission marks the first time NASA has funded an experiment allowing the researcher to personally conduct the experiment in space, rather than relying on a professional astronaut. Ferl and Paul submitted their proposal for this experiment to NASA seven years ago, and have since undergone extensive preparation, including flights on parabolic aircraft to simulate zero gravity and training in fighter jets under high- and low-gravity conditions.
The experiment builds on decades of research conducted aboard the International Space Station and space shuttles, where scientists have studied how seeds grow and plants develop in space. However, this mission is unique in its focus on how biological organisms react to the initial transition from Earth’s environment to spaceflight conditions.
Understanding these responses is crucial for future space exploration. As humans plan for extended stays on the Moon, Mars, or other orbital environments, knowing how plants—essential for food, water, and air recycling adapt to space travel will be vital. This experiment aims to pave the way for future astronaut scientists and will deepen our understanding of how life can thrive beyond Earth.
“Our science is dedicated to working towards a deeper understanding of what happens to life when it leaves the surface of the Earth,” Ferl said, highlighting the significance of the research for the future of human space exploration.
