Thinking Big in the UZH Space Hub
Thinking Big in the Space Hub
In a former airplane hangar, the University of Zurich (UZH) is consolidating its expertise in all things space-related.
Big ideas are taking shape in Hangar 4. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Dr. Oliver Ullrich, the so-called UZH Space Hub is exploring a wide range of space-related topics. These include using Earth observation data to study biodiversity, developing transport drones for future missions to the Moon or Mars, and researching how the immune system behaves in space. Scientists are also working on treatments for conditions like Alzheimer’s, asthma, and heart disease — developed under microgravity conditions. Another area of focus is the cultivation of human organoids from stem cells, grown in space and intended for medical use back on Earth.
What we learn: space can be harnessed in many ways, and soon, even more intensively. Oliver Ullrich, a space medicine specialist, professor at the University of Zurich, and director of the Space Hub, is a leading figure in space exploration. He has participated in eight ISS missions and nine suborbital rocket missions, making him the only Swiss to receive the Life Sciences Award from the International Academy of Astronautics. Recently, Ullrich successfully cultivated mini-organs aboard the International Space Station. As space travel becomes increasingly privatized, the possibility of cultivating human "spare parts" in space is becoming more realistic.
Dr. Ullrich, space is a big deal here in Dübendorf. Why is the topic receiving so much attention?
Oliver Ullrich: NASA will no longer operate a space station in low Earth orbit after 2030. That is now the job of private industry – and that’s the game-changer for us.
In what way?
A whole new dynamic comes into play. The price for freight to space will drop dramatically after 2030. Soon, sending a package to space will cost about the same as a FedEx package to the USA. Today, you pay around 3,000 Swiss francs per kilogram and have to submit long applications and accept waiting times. All of that will disappear.
What is the role of the Space Hub?
Our goal is to build a center of excellence. With the Space Hub, we want to pass on our expertise. Dübendorf is ideal for this: start-ups in the air and space sectors are located here, with access to offices, labs, and workshops—and even areas where large transport drones can be assembled.
Why is having your “own” airfield important?
We already have a long history with Dübendorf. The infrastructure is ideal. Since 2015, we have been conducting annual parabolic flights from here, where 25 seconds of weightlessness can be experienced, during which experiments can be carried out. We can also fly directly from here to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where we have offices and participate in missions.
