Rise of Private-Sector Research Onboard the ISS National Lab on Display with SpaceX CRS-18 Mission

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (FL), July 9, 2019 – SpaceX’s 18^th commercial resupply services mission (CRS-18) to the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) will include 17 private-sector research projects sponsored by the U.S. National Laboratory. In total, the ISS National Lab is sponsoring 25 separate payloads on SpaceX CRS-18, a new high for a resupply mission.

ISS National Lab Vice President of Business Development and Strategy Christine Kretz comments, “This launch showcases both the potential of the ISS National Lab to reach a wide range of private-sector users and the increased appeal of conducting research in the unique environment of 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..”

Kretz cited several examples of the diverse private-sector research launching to the ISS National Lab on this mission:

• AstraZeneca is sending its second payload sponsored by the ISS National Lab, this time studying monoclonal antibodies for a therapeutic to treat cancer and immune diseases.
• The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company will launch a materials payload to evaluate the creation of novel silica forms and structures in microgravity, and results could inform future efforts to improve tire performance through the development of new manufacturing techniques on the ground.
• Nickelodeon, the first American television network for children, plans to send its iconic slime to the orbiting lab for a series of science demonstrations that will educate students on the basic principles of fluid flow 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. versus normal gravity on Earth.

Also launching on SpaceX CRS-18 is the BioFabrication Facility, which will enhance bioprinting capabilities available on the space station. Additionally, two startup companies awarded through the MassChallenge startup accelerator program are sending research to the ISS National Lab to help advance the development of their new business models. These projects were funded through a MassChallenge “Technology in Space PrizeA prize that provides grant funding for business startups participating in the MassChallenge startup accelerator program to conduct innovative research and technology development utilizing the ISS National Lab. The prize is funded by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, which manages the ISS National Lab, and Boeing.” awarded in collaboration with Boeing.

SpaceX CRS-18 is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station no earlier than July 24 at 6:24 p.m. EDT.

To learn more about all payloads sponsored by the ISS National Lab on SpaceX CRS-18, please visit: https://issnationallab.org/launches/spacex-crs-18/

Media Contact:
Patrick O’Neill
(321) 480-1054
PONeill@issnationallab.org

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About the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory: In 2005, Congress designated the U.S. portion of the ISS as the nation’s newest national laboratory to optimize its use for improving quality of life on Earth, promoting collaboration among diverse users, and advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. This unique laboratory environment is available for use by non-NASA U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The ISS National Lab manages access to the permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space.

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