Research Opportunities and Results

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson working with the Efficacy and Metabolism of Azonafide Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Microgravity (ADCs in Microgravity).

Current & Upcoming Opportunities / NLRAs

ISS National Lab research announcements (NLRAs) seek proposals that advance R&D in key areas with demonstrated potential to develop into sustainable markets and benefit humanity. Proposed research goals vary by announcement, but all must demonstrate why the research should be conducted in space using ISS National Lab resources or facilities. Researchers from academic institutions, government agencies and organizations, and commercial companies are encouraged to review and apply. Review individual NLRAs for more information on how to apply, application deadlines, downloadable documents, and more.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Megan McArthur works in the Microgravity Science Glovebox swapping samples for an experiment called Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules, or SUBSA.

Completed Opportunities / NLRAs

The NLRA archives offer a comprehensive overview of past research opportunities and solicitations. It details various initiatives aimed at leveraging the unique environment of the International Space Station for advancements in fields such as advanced materials and manufacturing, STEM education, biomedical engineering, and cancer research. This section is a valuable resource for understanding research previously funded through the ISS National Lab. It provides insight into the evolution of specific research areas and how research announcements have evolved.

Research Project Portfolio Interactive Map (Pipeline Map) In-progress & Complete

Browse the ISS National Lab portfolio of projects in an interactive map and database. Search current and completed projects by keyword, category, payload status, or state.

Typhoon Neoguri on July 7, 2014

Case Studies

ISS National Lab case studies examine unique research projects that have demonstrated the benefits of conducting space-based research. Each case study offers a comprehensive overview of complex issues by presenting goals, outcomes, insights, and additional resources. Case studies are intended to enhance a reader’s understanding of the kinds of research done in microgravity and provide critical information for future researchers looking for practical examples of how to execute a project successfully.

NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, left, Jessica Watkins, center, and Robert Hines, right, are seen in the in the One World Connected gallery looking at an interactive recreation of the International Space Station’s Cupola, Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Lindgren, Watkins, and Hines spent 170 days in space as part of Expeditions 67 and 68 aboard the International Space Station.

Forging The Path

In this series of articles, CASIS experts share knowledge and insight from their unique experience managing a national lab in space as we look to the future LEO economy and the key role the ISS National Lab plays in getting us there.

Upward 7.2 cover

Upward®

Upward® serves as the premier platform for disseminating results from ISS National Lab-sponsored research and technology development (R&D) to the global scientific community, including both current and prospective space station investigators. Our mission for Upward is to highlight the value of space-based R&D and showcase the tangible successes of ISS National Lab-sponsored projects. By taking R&D upward to the space station and beyond, Upward advances scientific knowledge, fosters a sustainable economy in low Earth orbit and contributes to the betterment of humanity. Launched in February 2016, Upward is available online and as a printable PDF.

Astronaut Sunita L. Williams, Expedition 15 flight engineer, works with the Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System (LOCAD-PTS) experiment in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.

Media Credit: NASA

Research Reports

Reports inform future ISS National Lab research initiatives, R&D partnership opportunities for sponsored research programs, and more.

JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut and Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa works in the Kibo laboratory module's Life Science Glovebox extracting DNA samples for the new uTitan investigation

Media Credit: NASA

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

Explore peer-reviewed journal articles related to ISS National Lab investigations. 

NASA’s SpaceX 26th commercial resupply services mission lifts off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:20 p.m. EST Nov. 26, 2022.

Media Credit: NASA

Missions/Launches

Mission and launch content provide detailed information about what’s heading to the International Space Station (ISS), including upcoming and past missions, as well as key details such as launch vehicles, dates, and launch locations. Discover the science, R&D, and payload descriptions heading to station and learn about the role of the ISS National Lab in promoting and managing research that can benefit humanity.

The International Space Station's Maintenance Work Area (MWA), pictured here, provides astronauts with all of the tools to complete research in orbit.

Media Credit: NASA

Researcher Resources

This is a comprehensive list of resources for researchers interested in conducting experiments on the ISS. It includes detailed information on the application process, proposal submission guidelines, and available operational support to researchers. This content aims to facilitate the planning and execution of an NLRA submission by offering essential tools, timelines, and contact information to ensure successful collaboration and utilization of the ISS’s unique environment.