SpaceX CRS-24 Mission Overview

Research Investigations Sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory

SpaceX’s 24^th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission to the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) is slated for launch no earlier than December 21 at 5:06 a.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The ISS National Laboratory is sponsoring multiple payloads on this mission that will bring value to our nation and drive a 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..

Below are highlights of ISS National Lab-sponsored payloads that are part of the SpaceX CRS-24 mission to the space station.

Axiom Space Partnership
Axiom Space
Principal Investigator (PI): Christian Maender

Axiom Space is launching three separate payloads on this mission to support future science taking place on the Axiom-1 (Ax-1) private astronaut mission. Ax-1 Fluidic Space Optics, Ax-1 BioMonitor, and Ax-1 Holoportation Behavioral will all launch under the sponsorship of the ISS National Lab to support future research and development in low Earth orbit.

Implementation Partner(Abbreviation: IP) Commercial companies that work with the ISS National Lab to provide services related to payload development, including the translation of ground-based science to a space-based platform.: Axiom Space

Characterization of the Function and Stability of Bacteriorhodopsin Following Exposure to a 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. Environment
LambdaVision
PI: Dr. Nicole Wagner

This project seeks to advance the development of LambdaVision’s protein-based artificial retina that restores vision in patients with retinal degeneration. The research team will evaluate a manufacturing system using bacteriorhodopsin, the protein responsible for the activity of the artificial retina. Bacteriorhodopsin is a light-activated protein that replaces the function of damaged photoreceptor cells in the eye. The artificial retina is created using a layer-by-layer process, and microgravity may improve the quality and stability of films by limiting the aggregation and sedimentation that occur on Earth.

Implementation Partner: Space Tango

Effects of Microgravity on Human Physiology: Blood Brain Barrier Chip
Emulate
PI: Dr. Chris Hinojosa

In this investigation, Emulate will analyze the effects of microgravity and other space-related stressors on the brain-blood barrier using the company’s Brain-Chip. This project builds on Emulate’s initial blood-brain barrier tissue chipA tissue chip, or organ-on-a-chip or microphysiological system, is a small engineered device containing human cells and growth media to model the structure and function of human tissues and/or organs. Using tissue chips in microgravity, researchers can study the mechanisms behind disease and test new treatments for patients on Earth. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a multiyear partnership with the ISS National Laboratory® to fund tissue chip research on the space station. spaceflight investigation. Both investigations were funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, one of the 27 branches and centers of the National Institutes of Health. Tissue chips, which contain human cells grown on an artificial scaffold, model the structure and function of human tissue. The Brain-Chip is fully automated tissue chip technology that consists of living neuronal and vascular endothelial cells in a micro-engineered environment. The blood-brain barrier is a semi-permeable barrier that allows selective passage of certain molecules and gases while preventing the passage of others. It is a critical component involved in maintaining homeostasis, and disruption of the barrier can lead to or cause neurological dysfunction or disease. Results from this investigation may provide insight into the relationship between inflammation and brain function and a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Implementation Partner: Space Tango

Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Sanford Consortium and University of California San Diego
PI: Dr. John Milburn Jessup

This project will investigate aging in blood stem cells and the transformation of these cells into cancer cells. Exposure to radiation and microgravity in low Earth orbit can speed up both processes, simulating aging and enabling the study of cell response to injury, capacity for repair, overall stem cell fitness, and evolution of blood cancers. Results from this project could support the development of new ways to prevent, detect, and treat certain blood cancers.

Implementation Partner: Space Tango

Monoclonal Antibody Crystallization (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). PCG20)
Merck
PI: Dr. Paul Reichert

Over the years, pharmaceutical leader Merck has launched multiple protein crystallization investigations to the space station. In a previous ISS National Lab-sponsored investigation, Merck  was able to leverage microgravity conditions to produce highly uniform, concentrated crystalline suspensions of the active ingredient in the company’s cancer immunotherapy drug, Keytruda®. Merck successfully translated these findings to drug development processes back on the ground, allowing the company to further improve the formulation and delivery of Keytruda®. Merck’s latest crystallization experiment builds on their previous ISS National Lab-sponsored research, and results could lead to additional improvements in the manufacture and storage of Keytruda®, which could both reduce costs and improve quality of life for patients on Earth.

Implementation Partner: Bionetics Corporation

Made In Space Turbine Superalloy Casting Module
Redwire Space, Inc.
PI: Matthew Napoli

The Turbine Superalloy Casting Module (SCM) is a small module that allows manufacturing of single-piece turbine blisks (blade/disk combination) in microgravity for commercial use on Earth. This project is a technology demonstration of a commercial in-space manufacturing device designed to test the hypothesis that polycrystal superalloy parts thermally processed in microgravity have improved microstructure and mechanical properties than processed superalloys on Earth. If the technology demonstration is successful, single-piece turbine blisks manufactured on the ISS are expected to have lower part mass, less residual stress, and higher fatigue strength than those produced on Earth.

Implementation Partner: Redwire Space

Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease Cryovial Study
National Stem Cell Foundation (in collaboration with the New York Stem Cell Foundation)
PI: Dr. Andres Bratt-Leal and Dr. Valentina Fossati

The National Stem Cell Foundation (NSCF) has collaborated with the Exomedicine Institute on a unique 3D study of neurodegeneration in the absence of gravity. For this project, the research team will use cells from patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). This marks the first time that disease-specific cells from patients with PPMS and PD will be studied on the ISS to observe the cell-to-cell interactions of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation when the gravitational forces affecting cells on Earth are removed. Results from this investigation could further enhance knowledge regarding the genetic makeup of these debilitating diseases.

Implementation Partner: Space Tango

Rhodium Synthetic Cryptobiology
Rhodium Scientific and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
PI: Drs. Heath Mills and Aindrila Mukhopadhay

This project, in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, will test the use of specific bacterial strains to protect and preserve DNA through the stresses of launch, in-orbit stowage, and return to Earth. Results could help create more rugged biological components and advance these technologies for use in space and in extreme environments on Earth.

Implementation Partner: Rhodium Scientific

SEOPS-PGTIDE (P&G Tide in Space)
Procter & Gamble
PI: Dr. Mark Sivik

Procter & Gamble—one of the leading consumer goods companies in the world—will send elements associated with its Tide cleaning detergent brand to the space station for evaluation. The Procter & Gamble team intends to test the stability of cleaning ingredients under microgravity conditions and radiation exposure in space. In doing so, the company hopes to gain insights that could improve the production of Tide products for consumers on Earth. Results could also further knowledge on the development of laundry detergent solutions to support future long-duration spaceflight missions.

Implementation Partner: SEOPS

Unlocking the Cotton Genome to Precision Genetics
Clemson University
PI: Dr. Christopher Saski

This investigation seeks to examine gene expression patterns in tissues from cotton plants exposed to spaceflight to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in plant regeneration. A better understanding of plant regeneration could improve plant breeding and seed production for designer cotton varieties that are able to grow in suboptimal conditions and that have improved fiber characteristics. This project is funded by the Target Corporation, and stems from the Target Cotton Sustainability Challenge.

Implementation Partner: Techshot, Inc.