Colorado Researchers Advance Space Science

University of Colorado Boulder teams work on projects to protect astronauts and make health discoveries in space

Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:09am

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Two research teams at the University of Colorado Boulder are working on separate projects that could protect astronauts in space and advance human health on Earth. One team is developing a state-of-the-art dust and plasma tester called DUSTER to study the hazards of moon dust, while the other team is using microgravity experiments to explore new treatments for conditions like osteoporosis, blood cancers, arthritis, and even diabetes.

Why it matters

As NASA prepares for future Artemis missions to the Moon, understanding the dangers of lunar dust is critical for protecting astronauts. Meanwhile, the microgravity experiments conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder researchers could lead to groundbreaking medical discoveries that benefit people on Earth.

The details

The DUSTER project, led by researcher Xu Wang, has received nearly $25 million from NASA to build a state-of-the-art dust and plasma tester that will fly on the Artemis IV moon mission in two years. The team of over 30 scientists, engineers, and students is working to address the hazards of moon dust, which can cut through clothing and is highly charged. The BioServe Space Technologies team, led by Tobias Niederwieser, has sent over 300 experiments into space in the last 35 years, leading to advances in medicine for conditions like osteoporosis and blood cancers. They are now working with stem cells, hoping to develop new treatments for arthritis and even a cure for diabetes, and potentially 3D print new organs in space.

  • The DUSTER project is set to fly on the Artemis IV moon mission in two years.
  • BioServe Space Technologies has sent over 300 experiments into space in the last 35 years.

The players

Xu Wang

A research scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder, leading the DUSTER project to build a state-of-the-art dust and plasma tester for the Artemis IV moon mission.

Tobias Niederwieser

An assistant research professor at BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado Boulder, leading a team that has sent over 300 microgravity experiments into space in the last 35 years, leading to medical breakthroughs.

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What they’re saying

“Dust is one of the biggest hazards for exploration.”

— Xu Wang, Research Scientist, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at University of Colorado Boulder

“I cannot be happier ... I've been working on this for 20 years. I finally got to the point to fly this to the moon.”

— Xu Wang, Research Scientist, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at University of Colorado Boulder

“On Earth, the cells settle down to the bottom of your vessel, and in space that doesn't happen. We look at heart cells and kidney cells and bone cells and really see how they behave in microgravity.”

— Tobias Niederwieser, Assistant Research Professor, BioServe Space Technologies at University of Colorado Boulder

“It's a long time away, I think, but that's absolutely where we are heading. We already had beating heart cells in space, and I think that was the most exciting experiment ever.”

— Tobias Niederwieser, Assistant Research Professor, BioServe Space Technologies at University of Colorado Boulder

What’s next

The DUSTER project is set to fly on the Artemis IV moon mission in two years, while the BioServe Space Technologies team continues to conduct microgravity experiments that could lead to new medical treatments.

The takeaway

The research teams at the University of Colorado Boulder are making important contributions to space exploration and human health, developing tools to protect astronauts from the hazards of lunar dust and conducting groundbreaking microgravity experiments that could unlock new medical breakthroughs.