Highlights From Day 3 of ISSRDC 2024 and Save the Date for ISSRDC 2025 in Seattle

The 13th annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference(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. (ISSRDC) wrapped up with a great Day 3! Today, attendees heard from ISSInternational Space Station International Partners, a dynamic panel that discussed the importance of diversity in the space industry, and NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut Stephen Bowen.

An ISSRDC 2024 panel session with ISS International Partners: Hazzaa Al Mansoori, United Arab Emirates Astronaut Office; Luca Di Fino, Italian Space Agency; Mathieu Caron, Canadian Space Agency; Fabio Caramelli, European Space Agency; Masaki Shirakawa, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency; Dana Weigel

Dana Weigel, ISS Program manager for NASA, moderated a plenary discussion with ISS International Partners on the critical role of collaboration in space exploration. Panelists included representatives from the European Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency, the Italian Space Agency, the United Arab Emirates Astronaut Office, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Mathieu Caron, director of astronauts, life sciences, and space medicine for the Canadian Space Agency, emphasized the indispensability of international collaboration across all projects. And Masaki Shirakawa, director of JEM “Kibo” utilization center at JAXA,  shared insights into the agency’s cutting-edge advancements such as automation, artificial intelligence enhancements, increased hardware and facility portability, and new funding strategies for research activities. All panelists were united by a common goal: to maximize the potential of what can be achieved with the resources available on the space station and during future space missions.

A morning lightning talk was given by Fabio Caramelli, manager of  Space Rider System Payload and Exploitation for the European Space Agency (ESA). Caramelli spoke about ESA’s Space Rider, an uncrewed robotic laboratory and Europe’s first reusable space transportation system.

Another insightful lightning talk was given by Dana Baki, chief commercial officer at The Exploration Company, which is developing Nyx, a modular and reusable cargo spacecraft. Nyx can be launched from a heavy launcher anywhere in the world, fly to any space station, deliver and pick up cargo, and safely return to Earth.

Attendees enjoyed hearing from a diverse panel of visionaries about the value of accessibility and diversity in the future space industry workforce. The session was moderated by Stephen White, VP of external affairs, strategic initiatives, and business development at COSI.

To break down down barriers to make the space industry more accessible, Eric Ingram, chairman and chief strategy office of SCOUT Space, Inc., said that visibility is crucial. “You don’t see yourself in the room until you see someone like you in the room. A lot of it is expanding who we bring into these rooms, who is sitting at these tables, and who is taking part in these conversations, to let it be known that you are a person who can and should be in this industry.”

Jessica Gagen, aerospace engineer and reigning Miss United Kingdom, spoke about the importance of making sure girls know they don’t need to conform to stereotypes to be successful in STEM fields.  She said, “I want young girls to see that they don’t need to lose their femininity to flourish as a fantastic scientist and engineer and that scientists can be sparkly. We need the most curious minds in order to stand and flourish, and curious minds know no gender.”

During the panel discussion, Mechalle Brown, a dedicated educator, activist, and mother of NBA star Jaylen Brown, spoke about her son’s 7uice Foundation, which aims to “bridge the opportunity gap for youth in traditionally underserved Black and Brown communities.” Brown said of her son, “He wanted to make sure that kids that look like him would be able to have opportunities, so that’s why the foundation was started. It’s important that you see yourself. If you can see it, you can be it.”

John Shoffner, a private astronaut on Axiom’s second all-private astronaut mission and founder of the Perseid Foundation, said, “It frightens me to think young people might go off into the world in some career path that is not genuine to them and they may never really realize their dream. I remember when I was 10, I was captivated by the spaceflight of the 60s, and it drove every aspect of my life since. So, I want the same opportunity for young people today.”

Looking to the future, Brittany Brown, NASA director of digital communications, said, “Ten years from now, I am hopeful that we will be in a place where we no longer have firsts, that we will no longer need those qualifiers—to be the first woman, the first Black person, the first Asian American—and that everyone has had the opportunity to explore space, to be a part of the space program, and to contribute to the industry.”

NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen gave today’s luncheon keynote address. He talked about what it’s like to live and work in space and discussed the value of the research done on the ISS. “The level of research and the level of what we can do on the space station is so varied,” he said. “When we work together, what we’re able to accomplish and what we’re learning is absolutely amazing.”

A highly anticipated event every year at ISSRDC is the announcement of the Genes in Space student competition winners. Genes in SpaceAn annual national research competition for students in grades 7 through 12 to design pioneering biotechnology experiments that are conducted by astronauts on the space station. The program is funded by Boeing and miniPCR bio and supported by the ISS National Laboratory® and New England BioLabs., founded by Boeing and miniPCR bio and supported by the ISS National Lab, invites students in grades 7-12 to propose pioneering DNA experiments that leverage the unique environment of the space station. This year, nearly 700 proposals were submitted by more than 900 students. Finalist teams are invited to ISSRDC to present their experiment concepts to a panel of judges, and the winning team works with mentors from Harvard and MIT to develop their concept into a spaceflight investigation.

The 2024 winners of the Genes in Space competition, announced today on the ISSRDC main stage, are New York high school students Isabelle Chuang and Julia Gross. Their experiment aims to use phages, viruses that attack bacteria, as therapeutic agents to combat microbial infections in space.

Robert Thompson, from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, presented findings from research using the Cold Atom Lab (CAL) at the Physical Sciences and Materials Development Technical Session. CAL is a multiuser facility that allows scientists to study ultra-cold quantum gasses in microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment. using laser cooling technology. Research using CAL could uncover new quantum phenomena, provide a better understanding of our universe, and help answer questions about gravity, dark matter, and dark energy.

During the Physical Sciences and Materials Development Technical Session, Amir Hirsa, from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, discussed his team’s ISS National Lab-sponsored research that used the Ring Sheared Drop system on the space station to better understand the complex motion of proteins in solution. Insight gained from the investigation could help improve protein-based therapeutics on Earth.

Thank you to all of the ISSRDC 2024 attendees, speakers, and sponsors! We are excited to see you again next year at the 14th annual ISSRDC, July 28-31, 2025, in Seattle.