Lamborghini and Houston Methodist to Participate in Fireside Chat at ISSRDC Focused on Novel Space Collaborations

SEATTLE (WA), July 21, 2023 – The International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) has proven to be a unique source of inspiration and collaboration, bringing together entities for the greater good of humanity. At the 12^th 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.), one of those unique partnerships will take the stage to discuss their joint interest in pushing the limits of research and innovation for the benefit of people on Earth and beyond.

Automobili Lamborghini is an iconic manufacturer of luxury sports cars whose mission has evolved to “raise the bar and go beyond the status quo to build a brand new, limitless world.” To test the performance and viability of carbon fiber materials, the automotive team partnered with seasoned space researchers at the Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI) to send five proprietary samples to the orbiting laboratory. These samples, which included 3D-printed carbon fiber components developed by Lamborghini for aerospace applications, flew under the sponsorship of the ISS National Laboratory. The researchers examined how the materials were affected by the space environment, which could aid in the development of enhanced technologies for implantable drug delivery devices developed by HMRI for patients on Earth.

During this fireside chat on Day 2 of ISSRDC, “Intersection of Innovation: Bringing Together Legacy Automobile Brands and the Medical Community,” HMRI’s Alessandro Grattoni, Ph.D., and Lamborghini’s Maurizio Reggiani, will delve into how this unique partnership came together. It will highlight the importance of how companies working together can enhance value for research and innovation, and how space continues to be a bridge that brings people and communities together. The conversation will also highlight past work from HMRI through the ISS National Lab, and what might be next for both companies in space.

ISSRDC is the only conference dedicated to syncing leaders from the commercial sector, U.S. government agencies, and academic communities to foster innovation and discovery onboard the space station. ISSRDC will showcase how the space station continues to provide a valuable platform for research and technology development that benefits humanity and enables a robust and sustainable market 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..

The conference is hosted by the ISS National Lab, which is managed by 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).); NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration; and the American Astronautical Society (AAS). Additional announcements on keynote speakers and various sessions will be forthcoming.

ISSRDC will take place from July 31 to August 3, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency in Seattle. To learn more about ISSRDC, including how to register, exhibit, or become a conference sponsor, please visit the conference website.

Download a high-resolution photo for this release: Lamborghini and HMRI at ISSRDC 2023

Media Contact:       
Patrick O’Neill
904-806-0035
PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org

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About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:   The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Lab allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS) manages the ISS National Lab, under 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 NASA, facilitating access to its permanent 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. research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

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