From ISS experiments to the future of microgravity research
Since 1996, Lambda-X Verhaert High-Tech has supported scientific teams conducting experiments in microgravity environments, from the International Space Station to sounding rockets. Our role is to design and provide dedicated optical diagnostic tools tailored to each mission’s requirements. Over the years, our engineers have developed extensive knowledge of the technical constraints and specificities of microgravity research, building recognized expertise in this field. Looking ahead, we aim to bring this know-how to future commercial space stations, delivering reliable, efficient instruments that advance scientific investigations in orbit.
Check out our greatest missions
COLIS - ESA
Launched in August 4th, 2024, COLIS (Colloidal Solids instrument) embarked on the NG-21 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) where he found its home in the Microgravity Science Glovebox facility. This instrument was crafted by Redwire Space Europe’s team in Belgium, together with Lambda-X | Verhaert High-Tech, for ESA. COLIS is no ordinary scientific tool— with two unique cell modules (D and E) and advanced detection techniques, it’s designed to investigate the secrets of proteins, colloidal glasses, and gels. This project employed cutting-edge techniques like Standard (Depolarized) Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Static Light Scattering, Time-Resolved Correlations (TRC), all in three directions, and Small Angle Light Scattering (SALS), to ensure measurement and analysis accuracy.
HOST2 - ESA
HOST2 (Heat Transfer Host-2) is an ESA facility designed to conduct experiments on heat transfer in microgravity, which fits within the European Drawer Rack-2 (EDR-2) on the International Space Station (ISS). As a sub-contractor of RedWire (previously QinetiQ), our engineering team contributed to the study of heat transfer occurring within specific experiment cells, through specialized optical observation and diagnostics tools, such as thermal infrared imagery, greyscale cameras, interferometry, and imaging reflection deflectometer.
NEUDIX
The NEUF-DIX project, named from “Non-EquilibriUm Fluctuations during DIffusion in compleX liquids”, investigates non-equilibrium fluctuations in complex fluids like concentrated colloidal suspensions and multi-component mixtures. It will be uploaded in Q2-2026 to the International Space Station and installed within the micro-gravity science glovebox. Four SLED-based bi-colour shadowgraphs have been produced, permitting the uploads of four-cell arrays at each time. The colour selection, between violet and red, is made using electrically driven fibre optical switches synchronised to the camera’s frame rate.
KRABS
KRABS is one of the 12 scientific experiments aboard the SubOrbital Express-5 sounding rocket, launched from Esrange Space Center in Sweden on March 28. The project investigates how human red blood cells behave in microgravity, helping researchers better understand blood circulation under spaceflight conditions. Lambda-X is responsible for the optical module, which is dedicated to the study of the kinetics of aggregation of real blood cells and their relation to the rheology of blood structure. The optical diagnostics are visible light scattering, bright field microscopy, and digital holographic microscopy.
Let’s turn your vision into mission-ready instruments!