Trove of Scientific Research Returns After Trip to Space Station

May 4, 2023 • By Amy Thompson, Staff Writer

April was a busy month on the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) in terms of science, as the crew worked to conduct dozens of scientific experiments, many of which were sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory. The results from these research investigations will not only benefit people back on Earth but will also help to prepare humans for future deep space missions.

Here’s a look back at some of the science payloads that recently returned to Earth.

Microbes 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.

Ever left for a trip and forgot something you needed at home? Here on Earth, you can go to a store and buy what you need, but you can’t exactly do that if you’re in space. To that end, a team of researchers from Rhodium Scientific and the University of Florida propose that you bring along some useful microbes that could help make other products you might need during your stay.

To test this concept of biomanufacturing in space, the team sent a project to the ISS that examined how gravity affects the production of therapeutics and nutrients from bacteria and yeast.

Foams and Emulsions 

Many household products, from salad dressing to foam body wash, could get a boost thanks to microgravity research from the City College of New York (CCNY). The investigation looked at the structure and stability of foams (gas bubbles dispersed in liquids or solids) and emulsions (tiny droplets of one liquid are dispersed in another fluid) in microgravity.

Microgravity helps to preserve the structure of foam products and emulsions for longer, enabling the team to test the effectiveness of nanoparticles in stabilizing them. Results could help the team develop more eco-friendly ways to create these products and expand shelf life.

Building a better kneecap

Did you know that the knee is not only one of the largest and most complex joints in the body, but it’s also highly susceptible to injury? In fact, one of the most common orthopedic injuries is the tearing of the meniscus, a half-moon-shaped piece of cartilage in the knee.

Current treatments for a torn meniscus involve removing or repairing the torn segment, which can increase risk of arthritis or knee replacement. Researchers from Redwire Space are turning to the microgravity environment of the ISS to 3D print human menisci that could one day be used in transplants, improving treatment options.

Cardiac cells in space

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and Stanford University sent engineered heart tissues to space to better understand microgravity’s effects on the human heart. That’s because microgravity can weaken heart muscles at an accelerated rate, similar to the aging process on Earth, making it an ideal environment to study the progression of heart disease.

Results from these investigations will help researchers determine if these tissues can be used as an effective model to better understand the progression of heart disease to improve and develop novel therapeutics that can improve patient care on Earth.