Franklin 1 · protein crystallization

Cardiovascular disease

Franklin 1 is a sealed dual-reservoir payload for protein and small-molecule crystallization process data. Cardiovascular medicines are already a ~$140–185B global market. WHO estimates 19.8 million people died from CVD in 2022 (about 32% of all deaths); most of those were heart attack and stroke. CDC reports 919,032 US cardiovascular deaths in 2023, about 1 in 3 US deaths, and about 805,000 US heart attacks a year. That is not a knock on pharma. It is the gap: huge spend, still the leading killer, and only a thin published microgravity process layer even though atorvastatin already showed the physics works.

The mission concept: map crystallization windows (thermal, mixing, concentration) in true microgravity, watch the chamber optically, and downlink prioritized science packets.

Pathfinder targeted 2027, partner- and funding-gated. Partners fly the bus. You get mission execution plus crystallization data.