Non-Human Biologics in the Stratosphere: Study Design for High-Altitude Balloon Exposure of Non-Human Biologics at xBioNexus A.E.R.B.

These non-human biologics are well-documented models of tolerance to desiccation, freezing, vacuum and radiation, but few low-cost, openly documented studies have examined how living microscopic animals respond to sealed exposure in the stratosphere. The xBioNexus A.E.R.B. (Aerostratospheric Advanced Environmental Research Base) program will use high-altitude balloon flights launched from a 12,196.8 sq ft research base in southern Illinois to carry sealed samples of non-human biologics into near-space conditions and return them for study. The study organism is the commercially sourced educational culture Hypsibius exemplaris (strain Z151), culture and lot 31585554, received October 28, 2026 from Carolina Biological Supply Company, a commercial vendor. The culture is divided into a home tank that never leaves the lab (AERO-554-A), two ground-control dishes (AERO-554-B1 and B2) and two planned flight dishes (AERO-554-C1 and C2). Each flight dish will be paired with a ground control that follows the same handling and timing but does not fly. Each planned mission will have three stages: pre-flight observation, in-flight environmental logging by the payload, and post-recovery observation. Flown samples will be compared with their paired controls and the home tank, and read alongside the base's planned solar, UV index, radiation and fixed ground weather measurements. Handling follows documented procedures for biosafety, chain of custody, culture receipt, equipment, welfare and deviation reporting, under a published data management plan. Ground-based control work is under way. No flight has taken place, and no results or findings are claimed. Data availability: No flight data have been collected. Ground-based control work is under way.