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FY23 Executive Summary
MEDIA CREDIT: Image courtesy of NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Executive Summary
The many accomplishments of the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) National Laboratory in fiscal year 2023 (FY23) are indicative of its ongoing success in facilitating cutting-edge research and technology development (R&D) in space to benefit humanity and in establishing a robust economy in 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 Lab continues to play a crucial role in demonstrating the value of space-based R&D and in building the operational and cooperative infrastructure to drive broad market expansion and set the stage for a smooth transition to the commercial LEO destinations (CLDs) of the future.
FY23 was a record-breaking year in terms of launches and payloads delivered to the orbiting laboratory, signaling an increased and regular cadence of access to LEO through the ISS National Lab. More than 80 percent of ISS National Lab payloads delivered this year were from commercial entities, and $20.5 million of private-sector funding was committed to support ISS National Lab-sponsored projects—demonstrating an increasing interest in space-based R&D among industry users and their willingness to invest their own money in such endeavors.
“The ISS National Lab saw another record year in 2023, with the most projects delivered in a single year and meeting or exceeding all targets. We are well into the decade of results from research on the ISS, expanding its use in new, exciting, and innovative ways while growing government and commercial partnerships that will continue on commercial low Earth orbit destinations.”
– Robyn Gatens, NASA Director of the International Space Station
Additionally, several ISS National Lab users are returning to conduct follow-on research, indicating the value of iterative R&D. To further enable multiphase research, the ISS National Lab partnered with NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division for the first time on a new solicitation to advance critical research on cancer and other diseases. ISS National Lab solicitations have also extended accessibility to new research communities, as more than 70 percent of newly selected projects this year were from new-to-space users.
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). continues to foster public-private partnerships that maximize value creation from ISS National lab resources, maintaining longstanding collaborations with U.S. government agencies such as the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In FY23, nearly 40 peer-reviewed publications related to ISS National Lab-sponsored research were published, and of those, more than half were from investigations funded by NSF and NIH to advance fundamental science. Additionally, a growing number of patents and products related to ISS National Lab-sponsored research demonstrates the tangible value of space-based R&D.
To enhance the supply side of the LEO economy, the ISS National Lab continues to facilitate business growth for companies and organizations that offer services related to payload development. In FY23, more than 80 percent of CASIS funding was used to cover researcher costs for such 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. services, and more than 60 percent of payloads delivered were flown through agreements that allow Commercial Service Providers to supply their customers with easy access to the facilities they own and operate on station.
A Personal Note From Ramon Lugo, Principal Investigator and CEO of CASIS:
I want to express my thanks not only to the CASIS team but also to our stakeholder community for helping us achieve the results documented in this Annual Report. It has been said by many that little of importance can be accomplished by a single person or organization. It is only through strong partnerships that we collectively find new and innovative ways to use the ISS to solve problems and generate solutions for humankind. We continue to work closely with NASA, our research and technology development community, the investment community, and commercial partners to create new opportunities to impact humanity. I look forward to the new year, as we have big plans and expect to engage the space community in helping us prepare the ISS National Lab for the transition to commercial LEO destinations. Please take the time to read this report, and feel free to share it with family, friends, and colleagues.
Despite challenging capital market conditions in FY23, $230.5 million in funding was raised postflight by startups with ISS National Lab-sponsored projects, bringing the all-time cumulative total to nearly $2.1 billion. To date, CASIS has facilitated more than 1,300 capital introductions between startups and investors in the ISS National Lab investor network.
A robust space industry workforce is vital to the success of the LEO economy, and the ISS National Lab continues to support workforce development through the James A. Abrahamson Space Leader Fellowship program, which helps college students position themselves for careers in the space industry.
In FY23, high-quality content, strategic marketing campaigns, and intensified public relations efforts led to a significant increase in awareness of ISS National Lab activities and successful results. Three new issues of Upward magazine garnered nearly 50,000 online page views, and targeted press releases resulted in more than 17,000 media pickups. Additionally, nearly 900 people attended the 12th 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.) in Seattle to engage with key players directing the future of R&D in LEO.
This year, CASIS continued to grow and evolve and made great strides in optimizing business systems management and in filling open positions across the organization. CASIS also expanded its board of directors, with the addition of Sol Glasner and former NASA Johnson Space Center Chief Financial Officer Dorothy Rasco.
For a snapshot of ISS National Lab FY23 activities across the U.S., see the map in Appendix C.
“Research and technology development on the ISS is hitting on all cylinders. We are privileged to be a part of NASA’s decade of results as we fulfill the goals set forth for the ISS National Lab. The board has never been more excited with the performance of the ISS National Lab team and its cooperative relationship with NASA. We look forward to many more successes in the coming years.”
– David Radzanowski, Chair of the CASIS Board of Directors