Research and Technology Development

Innovation Beyond Limits: Where Ideas Take Flight

Discover How We Make Cutting-Edge Science Possible

The International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) National Laboratory equips researchers with state-of-the-art systems and advanced tools, enabling scientific research and technology demonstrations that cannot be done on Earth.

Learn More About Research in Space

Education & Workforce
Development

RESEARCH AREAS

In-Space Production
Applications

Technology Development /
Demonstration

Fundamental Science

How to Conduct Research Onboard the ISS

Want to know what to do to conduct research through the ISS National Lab? Take a walk through our customer journey, from identifying a scientific question and submitting a proposal to working with our partners to adapt experiments for space conditions. Remember, we’re here to help you every step of the way, and watching your research launch to station will be well worth the journey.

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WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO CONDUCT RESEARCH THROUGH THE ISS NATIONAL LAB?

RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT

Have a research idea? Look at our current and upcoming opportunities webpage to see which solicitations are open now or are opening soon. View our research areas webpage to see which type of solicitation best fits your idea. You can also browse past ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations on our pipeline webpage.

CONCEPT SUMMARY

Submit a short summary of your concept. Describe the project, why the space environment is needed or beneficial, how it would be set up on the ISS, and the expected impact of the results. Go to our Implementation Partner (IP) database to identify an IP that can help develop your research concept into a spaceflight project and provide facilities and hardware to conduct your research on station.

FULL PROPOSAL

If you are invited to submit a full proposal, review the solicitation instructions and make sure your proposal meets all evaluation criteria. You will also need to include a Statement of Work from your . Be sure look at our helpful resources for applicants while preparing your proposal.

SELECTION FOR AWARD AND
AGREEMENT

If your project is selected for award, you will need to enter into a signed agreement with .

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

You will work with your Implementation Partner (IP) to develop your project. Your IP will guide you through verification and safety testing to ensure your project is spaceflight ready.

LAUNCH

Once your project is spaceflight ready, it will be scheduled to launch to the ISS on one of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services missions. You will coordinate with your IP and CASIS to get your project to Kennedy Space Center and prepare it for launch.

IN-ORBIT OPERATIONS

Crew members on the ISS will carry out operations for your project. Your IP can help coordinate a view of operations or communications with the crew, if needed.

POSTFLIGHT

Once project operations are complete, samples are returned to Earth, if needed. You will need to submit a postflight report summarizing how operations went and if your project objectives were met. Once your analysis is complete, you will need to submit a final report. Successful results may be featured in Upward, official magazine of the ISS National Lab.

IDEA FOR FOLLOW-UP RESEARCH

Idea for follow-up research: If you have an idea for a follow-up investigation, go back to our current and upcoming opportunities page to find a solicitation that fits your idea.

RESEARCH
ANNOUNCEMENT

CONCEPT
SUMMARY

FULL
PROPOSAL

AWARD
SELECTION AND
AGREEMENT

PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT

LAUNCH

IN-ORBIT
OPERATIONS

POSTFLIGHT

IDEA FOR
FOLLOW-UP
RESEARCH

An Unparalleled Environment for
Research and Development

Current Opportunities

Igniting Innovation research opportunity

NLRA 2024-9 Igniting Innovation: Science in Space to Cure Disease on Earth

NASA astronaut Christina Koch works on the University of Washington kidney tissue chip investigation inside the Life Sciences Glovebox onboard the ISS.

Tissue Chips in Space 2.0: Translational Multi-Organ Tissue Chip Systems for Drug Efficacy, Toxicity Testing,...

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson works on the Oncolinx investigation onboard the ISS.

Technology in Space Prize 2024 (Funded by Boeing and CASIS in Partnership with MassChallenge)

The MISSE Flight Facility, a commercially available orbital research facility that resides externally onboard the ISS, offers researchers the ability to test concepts in the extreme environment of space.

NLRA 2024-7: Technology Advancement and Applied Research Leveraging the ISS National Lab

View Current and Upcoming Opportunities

View Completed Opportunities

Resources for Applicants / Researchers

Explore various resources to aid your journey, including research proposal documents, stories on successful results, and ISS National Lab reports.

View Research Resources

ISS Research and Facilities Directory

The ISS National Lab provides researchers with a unique platform for cutting-edge multidisciplinary research. Advanced hardware and facilities enable investigations across various fields. Sophisticated capabilities include hardware for protein crystal growth, materials testing, combustion research, and more. Explore our facilities directory to see the wide variety of capabilities available to support your research.

View ISS Research Facilities Directory

Space Research by The Numbers

700+

ISS National Lab-Sponsored Payloads Flown

$2.1 Billion

Total Funding Raised Postflight by Startups With ISS National Lab Projects

350+

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles Related to the ISS National Lab

Screenshot of the ISS cupola from VR documentary from Felix & Paul Studios — Media Credit: Felix & Paul

Become a Partner

It takes a range of partners to make research and innovation in space possible, from Implementation Partners and Commercial Service Providers that provide facilities, hardware, and payload development services to scientific reviewers and research sponsors. Learn more about the opportunities to partner with the ISS National Lab.

Learn More About Our Partners & Facilities