ali logo
    • ALI – Aerospace Laboratory for Innovative components S.p.A.
    • Research & Product Development,
    • In-Orbit Demonstration and Verification,
    • Testing & Qualification,
    • Microgravity,
  • https://www.ali-spa.it/
  • Low-Earth Orbit (LEO)
  • MiniLab
< 1.000.000
< 12 months

Service Description

The company’s mission focuses on opening new frontiers in space research, providing scientists and researchers worldwide the opportunity to leverage the unique conditions of microgravity to conduct innovative experiments and deepen the understanding of scientific phenomena.

In post ISS context MiniLab 2.0 will be compatible to continue experiments on board future commercial orbital stations, while on board IREOS satellite MiniLab 3.0 will allow autonomous experiments in LEO.

 

Objectives and Mission

The company has developed three versions of its MiniLab technology. MiniLab 1.0 (TRL 9) is a 2U CubeSat-based modular laboratory designed for autonomous scientific experiments in space. It has been successfully deployed in four missions aboard the ISS between 2021 and 2024.

MiniLab 2.0 (TRL 5) introduces real-time experiment monitoring and data acquisition, enabling direct in-orbit analysis and remote adjustments, optimizing drug development and experimental workflows.

MiniLab 3.0 (TRL 4) is designed for integration. ALI aims to expand its service offerings by developing more sophisticated versions of the MiniLab, improving automation and remote control capabilities.

The next evolution of the MiniLab, named MiniLab 2.0 (May 2026) will offer advanced functionalities for remote control and management of experiments by scientists at the USOC Center of the Marscenter. This will enable the conduction of experiments both aboard orbiting stations and on spacecraft such as Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip and suborbital rockets. Key features of the MiniLab 2.0 include:

  1. Modular architecture for a wide range of applications.
  2. Multiple cells to conduct several experiments simultaneously.
  3. Dual thermal control allowing the regulation of experiment temperatures.
  4. Real-time monitoring of key experiment parameters with the ability to modify these parameters, enabling protocol adjustments from the ground.

 

Significant Achievements

The project timeline is set with Minilab 1.0 ready immediately, Minilab 2.0 planned for May 2026, and MiniLab 3.0 scheduled for orbit deployment by Q4 2026. In 2024, prototype testing and validation were successfully completed, confirming the system’s reliability and space-readiness. The focus shifted in 2025 to integrating the prototype with a commercial microsatellite, ensuring compatibility and operational functionality.

The culmination is the 2026 launch and in-orbit demonstration, validating the system’s performance in space. Feasibility remains promising, contingent on launch availability, with ongoing plans to enhance automation and payload capacity. Risks include potential delays from payload integration, regulatory approval processes, and limited ISS accommodation slots.

These challenges demand careful planning to mitigate technical, logistical, and scheduling issues. Overall, the project progresses steadily toward operational deployment and future technological advancements.

 

MiniLab in the Media

 

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