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FY21 Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Fiscal year 2021 (FY21) began with a significant milestone for the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station)—a transition into the third decade of crewed space operations. Reflecting on the past 20 years of continuous human presence on the ISS, it is humbling to see how much has been accomplished through this powerful space-based laboratory. Research and technology development (R&D) on the ISS has provided tangible benefit for people on Earth through the advancement of research, exploration, and the industrialization of low Earth orbit(Abbreviation: LEO) The orbit around the Earth that extends up to an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Earth’s surface. The International Space Station’s orbit is in LEO, at an altitude of approximately 250 miles. (LEO). The ISS National Laboratory plays a critical role both in demonstrating the value of space-based R&D to improve life on Earth and in driving a sustainable and robust market in LEO. The many accomplishments of the ISS National Lab in FY21 showcase our continued progress in fulfilling this incredible mission.
FY21 Successes
In the 10 years of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS(Abbreviation: CASIS™) The nonprofit organization that manages the ISS National Lab, which receives at least 50 percent of the U.S. research allocation on the International Space Station to facilitate research that benefits humanity (NASA manages the other 50% and focuses on research for space exploration purposes).) Cooperative AgreementA cooperative agreement is Federal assistance that establishes a relationship between the U.S. Government and a recipient in which the principal purpose of the relationship is to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation. Since 2011, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™) has managed the National Laboratory® through a Cooperative Agreement with NASA. with NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration to manage the ISS National Lab, more than 500 ISS National Lab-sponsored payloads, representing more than 600 investigations, have launched to the space station. This includes 88 payloads delivered FY21—the second most ever launched in a single fiscal year. Commercial interest in leveraging the ISS National Lab continues to increase, with more than 75% of payloads delivered in FY21 representing R&D from the private sector. This year, commercial partners included multiple Fortune 500 companies such as Colgate-Palmolive, Target Corp., Eli Lilly & Co., Bristol Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Lockheed Martin Corp., and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. This was also a robust year in terms of R&D progress, with 27 peer-reviewed articles detailing results related to ISS National Lab-sponsored research—tying last year for the highest number of publications in a fiscal year. Additionally, a new patent was filed by Emulate, Inc. for tissue chipA tissue chip, or organ-on-a-chip or microphysiological system, is a small engineered device containing human cells and growth media to model the structure and function of human tissues and/or organs. Using tissue chips in microgravity, researchers can study the mechanisms behind disease and test new treatments for patients on Earth. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a multiyear partnership with the ISS National Laboratory® to fund tissue chip research on the space station. technology developed in part through the company’s ISS National Lab-sponsored R&D.
Several FY21 achievements highlight the success of the ISS National Lab in stimulating expansion of the LEO economy. A record-setting 85% of total costs for ISS National Lab-sponsored projects selected this year were externally funded, demonstrating an increasing demand for space-based R&D among both commercial entities and academic research institutions. To date, more than $240 million in external, non-NASA funding has been committed in support of ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations. The ISS National Lab has continued to foster supply-side growth of the LEO economy through support of a diverse and growing community of Implementation Partners. In FY21, nearly 95% of CASIS funding was put toward Implementation Partner(Abbreviation: IP) Commercial companies that work with the ISS National Lab to provide services related to payload development, including the translation of ground-based science to a space-based platform. costs for ISS National Lab-sponsored projects. In-orbit capabilities also expanded this year with a new commercial ISS facility joining the 17 commercial facilities already on station. ISS National Lab utilization is also generating significant investment—to date, nearly $1.2 billion in cumulative funding has been raised by startup companies following ISS National Lab-sponsored flight projects. Moreover, the ISS National Lab Investor Network continues to grow by more than 20% each year, reaching 245 members in FY21.
The ISS National Lab has continued efforts to advance science literacy in the future workforce, leveraging the space station as a powerful platform for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. In FY21, Space Station Explorer education partner programs engaged nearly 3.8 million people. Furthermore, 70% of the participants in Space Station Explorers partner programs this year were female, and 40% represented underserved communities. Also, in FY21, the Space Station Ambassador program grew to more than 1,600 ambassadors—doubling in size since FY19. These volunteers share information about Space Station Explorers resources in their communities, helping to further extend the reach of ISS National Lab education initiatives.
A Decade of Evolution
All of these ISS National Lab successes reflect a decade of guidance from CASIS, which celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its management of the ISS National Lab in FY21. Over this 10-year period, CASIS has built the foundation for the successes achieved today. Powerful partnerships developed by CASIS have continued to mature, serving to expand the ISS National Lab portfolio and further drive demand. Through multiyear partnerships with CASIS, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have provided more than $35 million in funding, supporting nearly 50 ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations to advance fundamental and translational research in both the physical and life sciences. Additionally, CASIS has partnered with Boeing for multiple years in collaboration with MassChallenge to support innovative startup companies through the Technology in Space PrizeA prize that provides grant funding for business startups participating in the MassChallenge startup accelerator program to conduct innovative research and technology development utilizing the ISS National Lab. The prize is funded by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, which manages the ISS National Lab, and Boeing.. Since its inception in 2013, the prize has provided $8.8 million in funding to 27 startups for R&D sponsored by the ISS National Lab.
In the last 10 years, the strategic areas of focus for the ISS National Lab have evolved to center on key research areas that have shown the most potential to provide value to our nation. In FY21, CASIS released a new series of ISS National Lab Research Announcements (NLRAs) focused on these targeted areas, which include technology development and demonstration, in-space production applications(Abbreviation: InSPA) InSPA is an applied research and development program sponsored by NASA and the ISS National Lab aimed at demonstrating space-based manufacturing and production activities by using the unique space environment to develop, test, or mature products and processes that could have an economic impact. (in advanced manufacturing and materials as well as tissue engineering and biomanufacturing), and STEM education (both kindergarten through 12th grade and higher education).
FY21 also marked the 10th anniversary of the annual ISS Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC(Abbreviation: ISSRDC) The only conference dedicated exclusively to showcasing how the International Space Station is advancing science and technology and enabling a robust and sustainable market in LEO. This annual conference brings together leaders from the commercial sector, U.S. government agencies, and academic communities to foster innovation and discovery onboard the space station. ISSRDC is hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, manager of the ISS National Lab; NASA; and the American Astronautical Society.). Over the last decade, ISSRDC has played a crucial role in bringing together researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, investors, and the public to discuss the value of space-based R&D now and in the future.
Looking to the Future
CASIS continues to evolve as we begin to bring the ISS National Lab into a new era—transitioning from a decade of utilization to a decade of results guiding us toward the robust LEO economy of the future. Part of this evolution included review from an Independent Review Team appointed by NASA to help guide the future of the ISS National Lab. Actions addressing recommendations from this review included the development of a new CASIS Board of Directors, the establishment of a new ISS National Lab User Advisory Committee(Abbreviation: UAC) A committee that provides CASIS with user input and perspective about the management of ISS National Lab resources. (UAC), and the assignment of an ISS National Lab program executive at NASA Headquarters as the primary liaison to CASIS. These actions have served to streamline communication between CASIS, NASA, and the ISS National Lab user community as we work together to maximize the science return of the ISS National Lab.
CASIS will continue to build on the accomplishments and knowledge gained over the last 10 years to accelerate growth and investment in the LEO economy, focusing on the opportunities with the most promise to provide value to people on Earth. In the years to come, CASIS is dedicated to carrying out the important mission of the ISS National Lab and paving the way for a future national laboratory in LEO that provides a continuing capability for space-based R&D that benefits the nation.
A Personal Note From Ramon Lugo, Principal Investigator and CEO of CASIS:
I am honored to have joined CASIS as principal investigator and acting chief executive officer this year. Moving into our second decade of management of the ISS National Lab, I have great optimism as we continue our mission to advance science in space to benefit life on Earth and drive a robust and scalable market in LEO. Over the past 10 years, we have achieved remarkable results, facilitating the flight of more than 500 ISS National Lab-sponsored payloads, spurring more than $1 billion in private investment following ISS National Lab-sponsored flight projects, and impacting millions of people through our powerful education initiatives.
These achievements provide a solid base on which to build as we enter the third decade of continuous ISS operations. CASIS looks forward to continuing to work with our stakeholders to deliver valuable results, build a sustainable model for a space-based national laboratory in this decade and beyond, and inspire both the current and future generations.