XPANCEO’s smart contact lens is now undergoing a multi-stage testing program in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, that could culminate in trials in the space environment
XPANCEO, the deep tech company developing the next generation of computing through smart contact lenses, has announced a major step toward creating the first wearable smart lens designed for use in space. As part of a collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), the company will begin a multi-stage program that includes lab validation, ground simulations, and, as a future step, potential in-orbit validation.
The prototypes of smart contact lenses are equipped with AR image display technology and built-in biomedical sensors. The lens can be integrated with the space suit systems that power the contact lens, send visual data to it, and collect health metrics from it. The contact lens will be able to display information directly in the astronaut’s line of sight without blocking natural vision. Its sensors can track critical health indicators like intraocular pressure (IOP), glucose, vitamin levels, and lactate, a key marker of muscle fatigue, offering a powerful new tool to support astronaut safety and performance in space.
XPANCEO and MBRSC are working together to define the technical and operational requirements for using such a device in space. Joint ground tests at MBRSC will simulate space conditions, such as low humidity, elevated oxygen, and enclosed environments, to ensure the lens performs safely and reliably. These tests will also include parabolic flights that create brief periods of weightlessness, allowing engineers to observe its behavior under microgravity. The contact lens will also undergo lab testing, including biocompatibility and initial in-eye evaluations under medical supervision.
Once these parabolic test flights and ground simulations confirm that the lens can operate safely and effectively under space-like conditions, XPANCEO and MBRSC plan to submit the smart lens for the final stage: consideration in future in-orbit testing programs.
“A smart contact lens is not just a tool — it’s the next generation of computing, and space is the ultimate testing ground,” — emphasized the Founder of XPANCEO, Roman Axelrod “This mission brings us closer to a future where humans interact with information seamlessly, without screens or devices in their hands — something essential not only for life on Earth, but for missions to the Moon and Mars.”
“In space today, astronauts still receive voice instructions like ‘take the third wire from the left,’ or use tablets they control with their noses because of their bulky gloves.” concludes the Founder and CTO of XPANCEO, Dr. Valentyn Volkov. “Our lens changes that: it puts critical data directly in front of their eyes with AR features, improving accuracy, speed, and safety. Combined with real-time health monitoring, it addresses real challenges, like vision issues that affect over 70% of astronauts on long missions, while laying the foundation for a new era of computing.”
In parallel with lens testing, XPANCEO will also study the behavior of its advanced materials in the space environment. These include ultra-thin, semi-transparent materials like quasi-2D metals and Van der Waals heterostructures, which are key to building compact yet high-performance systems that can fit inside a contact lens. Understanding how they behave in microgravity and radiation is essential to ensure the reliability of the lens in orbit. At the same time, their unique physical properties make them promising candidates for future space applications, including next-generation solar sails and improved radio communication systems. XPANCEO will use modeling to identify the most stable materials, synthesize and characterize new samples, and then test the selected ones in space conditions for the first time.
Space has long served as the ultimate testing ground for groundbreaking technologies, from rigid contact lenses to GPS, that later reshape everyday life on Earth. XPANCEO’s mission marks a bold first step in taking smart contact lenses beyond the lab and into orbit. By proving their capabilities in the extreme environment of space, this technology will pave the way for a new era of augmented vision, enhancing safety and performance for astronauts today and transforming how people interact with information tomorrow.
