2025 was a busy year for us at WARR Space Labs. We launched a total of three iterations of our D.l.N.O.labs (Dinoflagellates: Investigation of Noctilucent Organisms) experiment throughout the year, analyzing bioluminescent algae in various microgravity environments. The project was started in April 2024 to not only investigate the impact of microgravity on cell membranes, but also to verify the student-built sounding rockets of our WARR Rocketry team for biological microgravity experiments and already won the EuRoC payload award in 2024.
Parabolic Flight with D.I.N.O.labs x2
We started the year off with preparing two payload iterations of D.I.N.O.labs in parallel. The first of which was D.I.N.O.labs x2 that launched on a parabolic flight with the Asclepios V mission from Valbrembo Airport (Italy) in June. This version reused many components that were already flown in D.I.N.O.labs V2 during EuRoC 2024, while adding improved light sensors. After some delays due to the weather, the final flight window gave us beautifully sunny conditions for our mission. The parabolic flight was conducted on a Cessna together with the Asclepios V analog astronauts and gave us many valuable insights for future parabolic flight campaigns.
Launch with WESP at IREC: D.I.N.O.labs ∇
Only two weeks after the parabolic flight campaign, we handed over the next iteration D.I.N.O.labs ∇ (Nabla) to the launch crew of project WESP to launch at IREC 2025 in the US. D.I.N.O.labs ∇ was designed in a 2U form factor as a tech-demonstrator for the new light sensors that were also flown on the parabolic flight and therefore featured no algae. Instead, we included fluorescent powder suspended in water as an artificial light source to get some insight into how the movement of particles/algae inside the payload affect our measurements during launch. While the payload is generally designed to provide data redundancy in case of any damages during launch and recovery, the payload did not survive the rocket’s unfortunate disintegration during launch. While many parts of the payload could be recovered in the desert, the data storage units were not recoverable.
Launch with Nixus at EuRoC
In October, we launched our latest and for now final version of the experiment, D.I.N.O.labs V3 in Portugal during EuRoC 2025.
D.I.N.O.labs was integrated into the nose cone for the first time, allowing for a more stress-free payload integration, as we exchanged our algae for each launch day. On the last day of the competition the payload was successfully launched and recovered on board the Nixus EX-4C rocket by WARR rocketry. The payload housed a total of 6 algae samples, while keeping the 2U formfactor of version ∇. This makes it the best sample to space needed ratio we had so far. A great additional feature is the small LCD display on the front of the payload, which allows to monitor all important housekeeping data like temperature, battery status etc. Not only that, but you can also play the google dinosaur game. The data analysis of this flight is still ongoing. However, we are very excited by our measurements and this exciting conclusion of project D.I.N.O.labs. While we are wrapping up some final tests and data analysis, we are already thinking about or next projects.
In November we started brainstorming new experiment ideas for our next mission that will be designed to go back to orbit!
With this exciting news, WARR Space Labs wishes a great start into the year of 2026. We are looking forward to seeing what it holds for us.