The researchers believe that the species they're sending out, Aspergillus nidulans, could produce up to 40 different types of drugs in microgravity. It's the perfect organism for the experiment, because it's been used widely in pharmaceutical research and is already known to produce metabolites that can be used for osteoporosis drugs. Seeing as astronauts lose bone mass when they spend long stretches of time outside our planet, A. nidulans could be a valuable cargo for deep space missions. The team also believes the the organism can be used for cancer, anti-fungal and Alzheimer's disease studies.

The fungi will be kept at 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit during the trip to the space station, where they'll be thawed and stored at the ideal growth temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit for up to seven days. Wang's team will get the specimens back for testing in May, hopefully after having produced the molecules that can be used for drug development. If the experiment works, then that means the researchers successfully found a way to make medicine in space. And as Professor Wang said: