From Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the start-up Alatyr aims to propel scientific research beyond Earth's atmosphere. Its goal: to launch, within three years, a fully automated space laboratory designed to operate without human intervention in microgravity. This bold project was showcased in the aisles of the recent Paris Air Show.
A satellite like no other
From the outside, the Alatyr space laboratory could pass for a classic satellite, with its cylindrical body and solar panels. But inside, it would house a veritable research center powered by autonomous robotic arms and dedicated to cell culture. The innovation also lies in its logistics: experiments, samples, and equipment would be sent to or retrieved from orbit via automated vehicles, eliminating any direct human handling. According to Emeric Lhomme, co-founder of Alatyr, microgravity offers a unique field of exploration. It would allow cells or molecules, such as those involved in drug development, to structure themselves differently, thus revealing unsuspected properties. He also discusses the potential for accelerated studies on pathologies such as osteoporosis, by observing the effects of near-zero gravity on healthy organisms, an area already explored by the European Space Agency.
Towards a space station without astronauts
Far from limiting itself to a single orbital laboratory, Alatyr also dreams of robotic stations capable of landing on the Moon or Mars. The model developed at an altitude of 400 kilometers could thus, according to its designers, be transposed to 400 kilometers. By removing human constraints, the startup hopes to multiply experiments and accelerate applied research in the biomedical, geological, and pharmacological fields. "There is a continent to discover," says Emeric Lhomme, convinced that automation in microgravity is destined to transform scientific research.
