« Back to Research and Science
Space Research Overview
Benefits of Space Research
The ISSInternational Space Station National Lab provides an out-of-this-world platform for cutting-edge research and product development. Human space exploration missions quickly revealed that 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., or weightlessness, had profound and unique effects on physical and biological phenomena. Understanding these effects is critical for human exploration and pioneering space — but the study of these effects also advances knowledge on Earth. The International Space Station National Laboratory is a permanently crewed research facility, observatory, and engineering test bed that can provide powerful insights into fundamental and applied scientific investigations.
Space Research Capabilities
The International Space Station National Laboratory is a functioning research laboratory with the tools, facilities, and partners needed to translate traditional ground-based experiments into flight-ready payloads. R&D onboard the ISS National Lab may provide insight into research questions that have eluded traditional laboratory experimentation.
Research Areas
ISS National Lab research falls into five categories: Fundamental science, in-space production applications(Abbreviation: InSPA) InSPA is an applied research and development program sponsored by NASA and the ISS National Lab aimed at demonstrating space-based manufacturing and production activities by using the unique space environment to develop, test, or mature products and processes that could have an economic impact., technology development & manufacturing, STEM education & workforce development, and commercial service providerImplementation Partners that own and operate commercial facilities for the support of research on the ISS or are developing future facilities. utilization.