A Thai research team is preparing to launch an experiment to the International Space Station (ISS) in May 2026, marking a significant step for the country’s pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. The project, known as TIGERS-X (Thailand Innovative G-force varied Emulsification Research for Space Exploration), is being developed by the Princess Srisavangavadhana College of Medicine, Chulabhorn Royal Academy.
The experiment, delivered to Space Applications Services in Zaventem, Belgium on March 20, 2026, will investigate how fluids mix in a microgravity environment. Researchers aim to study the emulsification behavior of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), or intravenous nutritional fluids, in space. On Earth, gravity causes oil-and-water mixtures to separate, but the unique conditions of space allow scientists to observe mixing behaviors that differ from those on the ground.
The TIGERS-X experiment utilizes a Microfluidic Static Mixer system, which mixes fluids without mechanical moving parts. This innovative approach could lead to the development of more efficient technologies for producing drugs and nutrients for patients. Understanding how fluids behave in microgravity is crucial for advancing in-space manufacturing and potentially creating medical solutions that are difficult or impossible to produce on Earth.
Space Applications Services conducted final verification procedures to ensure the experiment’s safety and compatibility with ISS systems. TIGERS-X successfully completed all testing phases and is cleared for launch aboard SpaceX CRS-34, scheduled for May 12, 2026, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The experiment will return to Earth aboard the Dragon spacecraft, allowing the research team to analyze the results. This mission demonstrates Thailand’s engineering capabilities and its growing role in the New Space Economy.
