India, Aug. 26 -- Nearly seven decades after NASA began studying how matter behaves beyond Earth, microgravity research is entering a new phase: from experimentation in space to manufacturing in space.

Microgravity offers conditions that are difficult, and sometimes impossible, to replicate on Earth. With gravity largely out of the equation, researchers can grow ultra-pure protein crystals that could aid drug discovery, explore new biological processes and develop advanced materials with properties that are difficult to achieve on the ground. What began largely as a scientific pursuit is now attracting pharmaceutical and biotech companies looking to turn these unique conditions into a commercial advantage.

The International Space Statio...