ISSRDC Announces “Steps to Space” Session to Educate Future Researchers
BOSTON (MA), June 27, 2024 – Launching an investigation to the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) requires several steps and collaboration, and a session at the 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.) will showcase some of the critical partners that support research on station. ISSRDC is the only conference dedicated to the science and technology development taking place on our nation’s orbiting laboratory and the growing 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). ISSRDC 2024 will be held from July 29 to August 1 at the Marriott Copley Place in Boston, with this session slated for Wednesday, July 31.
Conducting research through NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration and the ISS National Lab requires highly committed teams working together and takes a tremendous amount of forethought, strategy, and tactical execution. From designing and preparing an investigation for flight to ensuring smooth in-orbit operations and then successfully returning the payload to Earth for analysis, Implementation Partners provide valuable support. This session, “Enabling Technology Development on the ISS and Future LEO Platforms,” aims to educate researchers on the steps to launch a project to the orbiting laboratory and will provide examples of recent projects supported by these partners.
The session will be moderated by ISS National Lab Director of Payload Operations Robbie Hampton, who will be joined by the following panelists:
- Rick Mastracchio, former NASA astronaut and Northrop Grumman director of strategy and business development: Northrop Grumman is one of three companies responsible for transporting critical research and cargo to the space station through NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. This summer, the company will launch its 21st CRS mission(Abbreviation: CRS mission) A CRS mission is a cargo resupply mission contracted by NASA to deliver supplies and research to the International Space Station on commercial spacecraft as part of the CRS contract with three commercial companies. As part of CRS missions, experiments currently return to Earth on SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that splash down in the ocean. to the space station carrying more than 8,200 pounds of cargo, including dozens of investigations spanning multiple research disciplines.
- Kris Kuehnel, managing director for space exploration services at Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc.: Airbus is an ISS National Lab Commercial Service ProviderImplementation Partners that own and operate commercial facilities for the support of research on the ISS or are developing future facilities. that works with researchers from around the world and offers a wide variety of external ISS payload hosting services for groundbreaking research. Recently, the company launched ArgUS, which expands the payload hosting options and capabilities of Bartolomeo, a platform on the exterior of the space station that exposes payloads to the extreme space environment.
- Tim Kopra, former NASA astronaut and chief executive officer at Starlab and Nanoracks, part of Voyager’s Exploration Segment: Nanoracks is an ISS National Lab Commercial Service Provider that supports projects both inside and outside the space station, including the launch of hundreds of CubeSats from the ISS. Nanoracks is currently working with Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. and Sphere Entertainment to test a high-resolution camera system in the harsh conditions of space. This project is slated to launch later this summer.
A series of announcements in the coming weeks will highlight additional keynote speakers and panel sessions at ISSRDC 2024. This year’s conference also features lightning talks, plenary presentations, technical sessions, workshops, an investor session, and networking opportunities. The ISSRDC Marketplace Expo allows companies to showcase recent advancements in LEO and provides a venue to meet with researchers and stakeholders.
ISSRDC is hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (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).), manager of the ISS National Lab; NASA; and the American Astronautical Society. To learn more about ISSRDC, including how to register, exhibit, and become a sponsor, please visit our conference website.
Download a high-resolution photo: Conference Panel Graphic
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 Laboratory® allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of 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™ (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.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page.