A global consortium uniting leading experts in space technology, reproductive biology, ethics and geopolitics, developing the first comprehensive research roadmap to enable human conception, pregnancy, and birth in space.
In a world marked by political turbulence, polarization, and climate decline, it is vital to hold on to hope and invest in uniting visions for the future. As humanity moves toward increased commercial presence in space, scientific lunar bases, and future missions to Mars, long-term settlement beyond Earth is becoming a concrete goal.
Within this context, the question of reproduction becomes unavoidable. Permanent settlements beyond Earth will only be possible if safe ways to conceive and raise children in space can be established. Yet despite decades of human spaceflight, no conception has occurred in orbit, and systematic research into this domain is still at an early stage.
Reproduction in space cannot be approached as an isolated biological challenge. It is a systems-level problem requiring four interconnected pillars, each with its own deliverables, partners and timeline within the v1.0 roadmap.
Foundational data first, via in vitro models and mammalian proxies, before pursuing clinical pregnancy pathways. Build a high-fidelity evidence base on how gametes, embryos and pregnancy respond to partial and microgravity, radiation and circadian stress.
Focus: Gametogenesis · Embryo development · Pregnancy biology
Bio-secure, automated infrastructure that bridges terrestrial clinical setups with the constraints of spaceflight. Variable-gravity research platforms, miniaturised IVF, and organ-on-a-chip systems for safe, repeatable experiments off-world.
Focus: Variable-gravity platforms · Automated IVF · Organ-on-chip
Mitigate jurisdictional ambiguity among commercial space actors and govern advanced biotechnologies proactively. Embed informed consent, reproductive rights and the rights of future children at the centre of every protocol.
Focus: Bioethics code · Jurisdiction · Rights of the unborn
Philanthropic, venture and crowdfunding instruments alongside public funding. Prevent monopolisation of foundational reproductive technologies and design IP that keeps fertility-care accessible across nations and income brackets.
Focus: Hybrid funding · Equitable IP · Global access
I don’t think the human race will survive the next thousand years, unless we spread into space.
A spec sheet, not a marketing brochure, these numbers describe the actual scope of the roadmap work in front of us, sourced from the v1.0 whitepaper and symposium 1 participation.
Multi-decade research arc, milestones in rolling 3-year cycles.
SpaceBorn United · Cranfield · UZ Gent · Progenesis · SES · EarthLight Foundation
The inaugural symposium identified the major knowledge gaps that govern reproductive biology in space, partial and microgravity, radiation, disrupted circadian rhythms, and the urgency that upcoming space tourism and long-duration missions create, where both planned and unplanned pregnancies could occur.
Interdisciplinary working groups explored ethical frameworks, biomedical strategies, technological solutions and funding models. Beyond enabling space settlement, the roadmap is expected to generate significant benefits for reproductive medicine and maternal health on Earth.
Disciplines: Reproductive medicine · Space biology · Bioethics · Law & policy · Geopolitics · Space technology
Read the 4-page draft whitepaperAddressing reproduction in the extreme environment of space accelerates terrestrial medical spin-offs. The highly automated, miniaturised IVF infrastructure anticipated for future space communities is exactly what is needed to expand access, lower cost, and improve success rates of fertility care on Earth.
Closed-loop, lab-on-chip fertilisation and embryo-culture systems engineered for space will translate directly to mainland clinics, making the procedure less manual, less variable and more affordable.
Reproductive stress under microgravity and radiation generates new biomarkers and imaging needs, feeding back into earlier detection of infertility, miscarriage risk and maternal-health complications on Earth.
Robust, miniaturised reproductive technology can reach regions where today fertility care is unaffordable or absent, turning a frontier-driven research programme into a humanitarian dividend.
The roadmap is intentionally iterative. Symposium 2 in 2026 will sharpen the v1.0 priorities into measurable workstreams, and the consortium continues to welcome new founding partners across science, technology and ethics.
For experts in reproductive biology, space technology, bioethics, law and geopolitics. Bring your discipline into the next iteration of the roadmap, we’re convening Symposium 2 in 2026.
For universities, research institutes, clinics, agencies and aerospace organisations. Co-shape the roadmap, anchor a pillar, and access the consortium’s growing knowledge base and partner network.
