The International Space Station National Laboratory is a crewed low Earth orbit (LEO) platform for research, development, and education that inspires innovation and provides opportunities for discovery to benefit humankind.

Conducting research on the ISS National Laboratory demonstrates to U.S. citizens and the world that space is accessible, affordable, and capable of supporting the research and development necessary to make the fundamental business case for sustainable industrial demand in LEO. The ISS National Laboratory has a congressionally mandated mission to maximize use of this unique space-based facility to accelerate knowledge and foster commercial development through research and development.

Current Opportunities

Open Period: 1/7/2025 – 5/19/2025

NLRA 2025-5: Technology Advancement and Applied Research Leveraging the ISS National Lab,...

The purpose of this NLRA is to solicit proposals focused on flight investigations within applied R&D, translational medicine, technology readiness level maturation, and technology demonstration.

Current Opportunity  
The Ring Sheared Drop system containing concentrated solution of human serum albumin (the main protein constituent of blood).

Open Period: 12/31/2024-04/10/2025

NSF/CASIS 2025 Collaboration on Transport Phenomena Research on the ISS to Benefit Life on...

The purpose of this solicitation is to attract proposals that make use of the ISS National Lab for flight research projects in the field of transport phenomena.

Current Opportunity  
NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli works with the BioFabrication Facility onboard the ISS

Open Period: 11/29/2024-3/18/2025

NSF/CASIS 2025 Collaboration on Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology on the ISS to Benefit...

The purpose of this solicitation is to attract proposals that make use of the ISS National Lab for flight research projects in the field of biomedical engineering.

Current Opportunity  
NASA astronaut and Expedition 71 Flight Engineer Tracy C. Dyson cleans the inside of the Life Science Glovebox located aboard the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory. Dyson had earlier completed stem cell research operations exploring ways to advance cellular manufacturing and improve human health.

Open Period: Begins 10/18/2024

NLRA 2025-1: ISS National Lab Research Announcement For Follow-On Projects

The purpose of this NLRA is to solicit proposals focused on flight investigations within applied R&D, translational medicine, technology readiness level maturation, and technology demonstration.

Current Opportunity  
Igniting Innovation research opportunity

Open Period: 8/15/2024 – 3/31/2025

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

This NLRA is issued in collaboration with NASA BPS and seeks proposals for flight research on the ISS to address the goals of the Cancer MoonshotSM initiative.

Current Opportunity  

Upcoming Opportunities

 

NLRA Campaign Projected Release Date*
STEM Education & Workforce Development 2025 February 2025
In-Space Production Applications 2025 March 2025
Applied Research, Translational Science, and Technology Development: Cycle 2 May 2025
MassChallenge 2025 July 2025
Igniting Innovation: Science in Space to Cure Diseases on Earth 2025 August 2025

*Release dates are subject to change.