Microgravity offers a unique environment for research and development, but also poses distinct challenges when it comes to experimental design.

Led by Dr Sara Webb, the Microgravity Experimentation Program leverages over seven years of space heritage gained through designing bespoke experiments for the International Space Station. These student-led experiments align with NASA crewed mission objectives and have brought visibility to Australian research expertise. As Australia develops launch capabilities and other pathways for access to space and microgravity, this group provides valuable training and education programs as well as end-to-end expertise for the design, development, and data transport of a range of biological and material science missions in microgravity. 

Microgravity Experimentation spans a diverse range of fields, to gain a deeper understanding of everything from the human body to next-generation materials and manufacture.

Our research areas

This field offers end-to-end expertise for the design, development and data transport of a range of biological and material science missions in microgravity. Our key research includes: 

  • SHINE & Swinburne Youth Space Innovation Challenge – International Space Station experiment program with Haileybury College and space science school holiday program. Key research contact: Dr Sara Webb.
  • Space Health and Biology – investigating the effects of space radiation and microgravity on humans and other biological systems, exercise training in space, and ethics. Key research contacts: Associate Professor Jeremy Brown, Dr Huseyin Sumer, Dr Evie Kendal, Dr Harry Banyard, and Dr Bita Zaferanloo.
  • Biotech Applications, simulating microgravity to optimise biological experiments for space. Key research contact: Dr Karyn Jarvis.
  • Sustainable Space Platforms, developing modern manufacturing and experiment platforms made from novel materials to address issues such as thermal control and radiation shielding, as part of the Australian Space Manufacturing Network research project. Key collaborating researcher contacts: Associate Professor Jeremy Brown and Dr Andrew Ang. 

  • Youth Space Innovation Challenge

    Secondary students can design and lead an experiment that blasts off to the International Space Station each year through the Swinburne Youth Space Innovation Challenge.

    Find out more (Youth Space Innovation Challenge)

Explore our other research programs

Contact the Space Technology and Industry Institute

If your organisation would like to collaborate with us to solve a complex problem, or you simply want to contact our team, get in touch by calling +61 3 9214 5177 or emailing spaceinstitute@swinburne.edu.au.

Contact us