Sarah Kessans Photo: supplied
Sarah Kessans started her academic career studying plants; now the self-confessed 'space geek' is a synthetic biologist trying to build New Zealand's role in the global space economy.
Her research takes place on board 10cm3 nano-satellites and aims to understand how protein crystals grow in microgravity.
This knowledge can then be used here on Earth to hopefully design more effective drug treatments, and better foods.
Originally working towards a 2022/23 launch, last month Kessans got the news she can launch her experiments on a UK satellite in April next year.
Vacuum testing of the payload pressure vessel at Dawn Aerospace. Photo: supplied
