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New Researcher – Principal Investigator

The ISSInternational Space Station National Lab offers resources for new researchers, including a principal investigator (PI) guide, and provides a point of contact for funded researchers. New ISS National Lab researchers often have questions. The information below includes highlights from the PI guide and some additional information new and prospective researchers might find helpful. Regardless of award status, the information below provides an overview of how to engage with the ISS National Lab, what is expected of new researchers, and how the ISS National Lab and its partners support research to benefit humanity.

Want to conduct research in space and unsure where to start?

Begin by looking at our current and upcoming funding opportunities.
If you’ve found an open opportunity, review the applicant resources.
Examine a ‘big picture’ view of a typical ISS National Lab research experience

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

Your Spaceflight Team

On your journey from Earth to the ISS, three major groups will help guide your research opportunity from concept to execution: the ISS National Lab (managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space), your Implementation Partner, and NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration. Below is an overview of each of these groups and their role.

European Space Agency astronaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Thomas Pesquet works on the Cardinal Muscle investigation in the Life Sciences Glovebox aboard the International Space Station

ISS National Lab

The ISS National Lab sponsors your experiment, managing resources and advocating for you with NASA and stakeholders, while also ensuring the value of your research is communicated to NASA, Congress, and U.S. taxpayers. Your Operations Project Manager at the ISS National Lab will be the primary contact for progress updates and assistance with any challenges during your experiment’s integration/operations phases.

Implementation Partner

Your Implementation Partner handles the Mission Integration and Operations (MI&O) of your experiment, communicating with NASA and providing necessary technical specifications and documentation to ensure compliance with ISS and launch vehicle requirements. They also collaborate with the NASA operations team to develop training and procedures for executing your experiment. Email ops@ISSNationalLab.org if you need help finding an implementation partner as you prepare your first NLRAThe abbreviation for an ISS National Lab Research Announcement. NLRAs are one of the ISS National Lab’s primary mechanisms to solicit proposals in specific research areas. application.

If you’ve been awarded a project, log in to the Implementation Partner Portal.

NASA

NASA provides the ISS National Lab with resources and transportation for your experiment, ensuring its integration and safety. Your project will be guided by a Research Portfolio Manager (RPM) and Payload Integration Manager (PIM), with additional experts as needed, and you may be asked to participate in a pre-launch science symposium.

Curious about the hardware and facilities available to researchers? Wondering if the ISS National Lab can support your research goals, whether it be plant research, advanced materials testing, or a tissue engineering experiment. Explore the ISS Research Facilities Directory.

Payload Success

The ISS National Lab aims to ensure your payload’s success by keeping it on schedule and within budget. Early hardware testing can help address challenges, and final design changes should be science-driven to avoid delays and costs. Communicate any necessary changes to your Operations Project Manager early to adjust plans efficiently.

Reporting Overview

To ensure your project receives adequate resources and stays on track, you must submit periodic reports to the ISS National Lab as per your contractual agreement. This includes progress reports, a postflight report, a final report, and a survey using the provided templates.

If your project faces delays affecting milestone dates, contact your Operations Project Manager to revise the schedule. Travel for experiment development or sample preparation must be pre-approved by ISS National Lab management. Work with your Operations Project Manager to plan approved travel for experiment development or sample preparation.

Outreach

The ISS National Lab’s marketing and outreach team promotes your research to the public and leverages social media to highlight ISS science. Utilize this team for media releases, blogs, magazine features, research videos, interviews, and public events. For publishing external materials, coordinate with the marketing team.

Ask your Operations Project Manager for our communications overview and social media guide. For press releases, contact the marketing department at marcomm@issnationallab.org at least two weeks before release.

Publication/Distribution of Materials

We are interested in your research, including presentations, publications, patents, or product developments related to your research. We can help co-promote your research to extend its reach. Remember to acknowledge the ISS National Lab in any published materials with the statement: “Research reported in this [publication/press release/web page] was supported by the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory under [award/agreement] number (insert grant number).” Also, remember to verbally acknowledge ISS National Lab support during media interviews.

Logo Usage

If researchers are interested in incorporating the ISS National Lab logo into their presentations, publications, patches, stickers, and/or payload hardware, logos can be provided by the marketing and outreach team.

For more details about an aspect of the new researcher content provided here, Download the PI Guide or contact ops@ISSNationalLab.org.

Scientific Advancements & Results:
Space-based research is essential for advancing scientific knowledge and achieving groundbreaking R&D outcomes that are unattainable on Earth. Sharing these results fosters the growth of the space community and encourages more researchers to consider space as a viable option for addressing their most significant challenges. Upward, official magazine of the ISS National Lab, disseminates findings from ISS National Lab-sponsored research and technology development (R&D) to the global scientific community. Additionally, ISS National Lab case studies offer comprehensive overviews of unique space-based research projects, providing valuable insights and practical examples for future researchers, science enthusiasts, and prospective investors.