TIGERS-X: medical fluid mixing research in microgravity

The TIGERS-X payload aims to demonstrate and employ an automated lab‑on‑a-chip technology to investigate how complex medical fluids mix and form stable emulsions in the microgravity environment of the ISS.

Enabling clinical nutrition in space

TIGERS‑X focuses on parenteral nutrition solutions, composed mainly of glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids, which are essential for Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), a critical feeding method needed for intensive healthcare. While these formulations are routinely prepared on Earth, their behaviour changes significantly in microgravity, where surface tension and interfacial forces dominate fluid dynamics.

Building on results from a previous parabolic flight campaign, which showed enhanced interfacial motion and improved dispersion in microgravity, TIGERS‑X extends these observations through longer‑duration orbital experiments to better understand low‑energy mixing processes relevant to advanced medical treatment on Earth and in space, especially for long-term crewed missions.

Autonomous lab‑on‑a-chip experiment

Operating as an automated mixer and emulsifier, TIGERS‑X uses microfluidic lab‑on-a-chip devices to mix pre‑loaded fluid samples under controlled microgravity conditions. High‑resolution cameras will record the mixing process, enabling the visual evaluation of fluid homogeneity and emulsion stability. Experimental data will be downlinked in near real time to the ground station, and at the end of the mission, the payload, containing the mixed samples, is also returned to Earth for post‑flight analysis.

The experiment will be hosted inside the ICE Cubes Facility, which enables plug‑and‑play integration and supports fully autonomous operation as well as ground commanding via the ICE Cubes Mission Control Centre. No crew interaction is required during nominal operations beyond installation and removal, ensuring a highly efficient, flexible, and low‑impact execution of the experiment on board the ISS.

Broader impact

By advancing fundamental knowledge of fluid mixing in microgravity, TIGERS‑X supports improved preparation of food and medicines for future long‑duration missions. The findings may inform the design of more reliable static mixers and optimized formulations for medical, pharmaceutical, food, and waste‑processing applications, all of which is essential to the operation of an onboard life support system (ECLSS). Results from orbit will be compared with parallel ground‑based developments, enabling direct benefits for terrestrial application, from research into building more effective medical mixer hardware to pushing fundamental technology using fluid dynamic.

A leap forward for Thailand’s life science in space experiment

TIGERS‑X is part of Thailand’s leading space food and medical research initiative which builds on the legacy of the KEETA project, a finalist in the first NASA’s Deep Space Food Challenge (DSFC). The payload was developed by the Integrated Space and Human Advancement Laboratory (ISHA Lab) and the Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA).

The project is funded by Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) and carried out in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at Panyapiwat Institute of Management (PIM), the Thai Microelectronics Technology Center (TMEC) at the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), and Geo‑informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).

As TIGERS‑X prepares for its ISS mission, it showcases how compact, autonomous experiments and micro-level life science can advance human health in space while delivering tangible benefits on Earth. For detailed insights into the payload design, mission objectives, operations timeline, and real-time mission updates, readers are strongly encouraged to explore the dedicated TIGERS-X website.