French company Orius has developed Gravilab, a new gravity simulator designed to test how microgravity and partial gravity environments affect plant growth. Created in partnership with the French Space Agency (CNES) and the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, the tool is part of Orius' broader effort to advance plant cultivation protocols for lunar and Martian bases.
"Gravity plays a crucial role in plant development, from orientation to hormone distribution and cell structure," says Pierre Jay, co-founder of Orius. "To support future space farming, we need to understand exactly how altered gravity environments affect each stage of plant growth."
Simulating the Moon, Mars, and beyond
Unlike traditional clinostats that operate on a single axis, the Gravilab uses two rotating axes to better replicate the conditions of microgravity and partial gravity. "Gravilab is an Advanced Random Positioning Machine (A-RPM), which allows us to simulate gravity levels between 0 and 1G, including environments like the ISS, Moon, and Mars," says engineer Anas Rais.
Designed for whole-plant cultivation, Gravilab accommodates growth over several weeks and includes integrated lighting, irrigation, and environmental controls. "Our goal was to create a fully functional cultivation system within a rotating device, without leaks or measurement bias," Rais explains. "Water is a critical input in space, and getting that part right was essential."
© Orius
Adapting crops for space
Initial experiments focused on Brassica rapa var. japonica (Mizuna), a leafy green known for its compact growth and resilience. "We achieved nearly 100% germination and tracked the full development cycle under altered gravity," says Dr. Pierre-François Pluchon, microbiologist at Orius.
"This tool allows us to test inducers that activate specific metabolic pathways, helping us optimize secondary metabolite production not just for space, but for terrestrial applications as well," adds Nathan Fouere Klein, PhD student at Orius and the Museum of Natural History.
© Orius
Expanding the research frontier
Gravilab's modular design also supports experiments on cells, bacteria, yeast, and even small aquatic organisms. "The platform adapts to different payloads, maintaining stable simulated gravity across applications," Jay notes. "It opens the door to a broad range of biological studies."
Orius views its space research as an investment in both extraterrestrial farming and innovation on Earth. "Space forces us to rethink how we use resources," Jay says. "That perspective is just as valuable in controlled-environment agriculture here on Earth as it is on the Moon."
For more information:
Orius 
Elodie Rallo, Marketing and Communications
e.rallo@orius.co
www.orius.co