Melagen Labs

Melagen Labs is a materials company building radiation shielding for space systems. Its flagship product, MLC1, is a proprietary, patent-pending hydrogen-based biomaterial polymer composite intended to protect satellites, electronics, enclosures, optics, space suits, habitats and biologic enclosures, as well as nuclear, medical, defense and national-security equipment. The company positions MLC1 as an alternative to aluminum shielding, which it describes as heavy and prone to generating secondary radiation; company materials claim the composite matches aluminum's shielding efficacy at a given thickness while being roughly 2.75x lighter, and the company's site claims 3x lighter weight, 2x greater effectiveness, 5x extended electronics lifespan and a three-week lead time. MLC1 is described as an adaptable materials platform that can be applied through 3D printing, injection molding, conformal coatings and PPE fabrics.

Beyond materials, the company describes building a "full stack radiation platform" spanning shielding materials, AI-powered radiation software and radiation testing infrastructure. It operates a radiation testing facility in Taylor, Texas offering TID and proton SEE testing for the aerospace industry, established through a public-private partnership with the city. The company frames its market thesis around orbital computing: commercial off-the-shelf processors deliver far greater performance than radiation-hardened parts but are radiation-sensitive, and the company cites industry figures that radiation effects contribute to 38% of satellite failures and more than $2 billion in annual losses.

Melagen Labs was a Techstars 2024 company and was selected for the inaugural cohort of the ISS National Laboratory's Orbital Edge Accelerator, run with Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), E2MC and Stellar Ventures.

Founding story

Founder and CEO Muhammad Hunain began by researching radiation effects on electronics, focusing on the problem that the advanced processors used for modern AI workloads cannot survive in orbit; commercial off-the-shelf processors offer roughly 20 times the computing power of traditional space-rated radiation-hardened alternatives but are highly radiation-sensitive.

Business model

B2B manufacturing: designing and producing purpose-specific radiation shielding materials and components for customer mission requirements, alongside operating a radiation testing facility serving the aerospace industry.

Traction

Selected as one of six startups in the inaugural ISS National Lab Orbital Edge Accelerator cohort (announced July 2025), with up to $500,000 in investment available to each company. MLC1 has been validated terrestrially and through simulations and passed ASTM E595 outgassing. A joint ISS technology demonstration with Satlyt on the AEGIS Aerospace MISSE platform is planned for a six-month evaluation, and a second demonstration mission is planned aboard a SpaceX Transporter flight in 2026 deploying radiation dosimeters in sun-synchronous orbit. MLC1 was also reported as integrated aboard Blackwing Space's Baby Bird mission.

Latest developments

In March 2026 Melagen Labs and Satlyt announced a joint ISS technology demonstration on the AEGIS MISSE platform, shielding a COTS AI processor with MLC1 for a six-month evaluation with time-series radiation data downlinked in flight; the company's site lists the ISS National Lab mission with Satlyt for Q4 2026. In April 2026 the company announced a $4.5 million public-private partnership with Taylor, Texas for a radiation and space testing center. In September 2026 MLC1 was reported as integrated aboard Blackwing Space's Baby Bird mission.