January 2024
Welcome to Space Station Spotlight, a new monthly newsletter from the ISS National Laboratory. Here’s where you can find all the latest R&D happenings on the space station, see what our partners are up to, and learn how you can elevate your research to new heights by leveraging the unique space environment.
What’s new at the ISS National Lab?
Members of the media connected with researchers conducting science investigations in space to learn more about projects flying on Northrop Grumman’s 20th Commercial Resupply Services (NG-20) mission.
LambdaVision launched an investigation to help progress toward its in-space manufacturing goal of producing high-quality artificial retinas to help restore significant vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
A project funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and led by the University of Connecticut will test how well a nanotherapeutic helps to regenerate cartilage.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) launched its Spaceborne Computer-2, a commercial off-the-shelf system with software that allows it to operate in the harsh space environment. The Spaceborne Computer could streamline space-based research by providing quicker in-orbit data processing.
Partner News
Axiom Space launched four humans into space. Along with the four crew members, more than two dozen ISSInternational Space Station National Lab-sponsored payloads, including a bevy of life science investigations and technology demonstration projects, traveled to the space station on Axiom Space’s third private astronaut mission (Ax-3).
A project that launched on Ax-3 is focused on brain organoids. An investigation from the National Stem Cell Foundation aims to explore the role inflammation plays in degenerative brain conditions like Parkinson’s disease and primary progressive multiple sclerosis to improve treatments for patients on Earth.
Funding Opportunities
An ISS National Lab research announcement on technology development is now open. Through this opportunity, researchers can propose to use the space station to develop, test, or mature products or processes. Concept summaries are due on March 4, 2024. See full details here.
Results
The ISS National Lab highlights 10 years of Cygnus science. Over the past decade, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraftOne of two U.S. commercial vehicles that currently deliver cargo including research investigations and crew supplies to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program. has delivered dozens of payloads to the ISS. In a recent photo essay, the ISS National Lab looks back on important scientific research facilitated by Cygnus.
ISS National Lab cancer research efforts highlighted in Politico. A recent article from Politico discusses the benefit of conducting cancer research in space and highlights multiple ISS National Lab experiments that are making an impact.
Workforce Development and STEM Education
The ISS National Lab announced its 2023 James A. Abrahamson fellow. Emma Green, a recent graduate of Illinois College was selected as the newest James A. Abrahamson fellow. She will work alongside mentors at the ISS National Lab to develop and hone the necessary skills to help her succeed in her future career.
Genes in SpaceAn annual national research competition for students in grades 7 through 12 to design pioneering biotechnology experiments that are conducted by astronauts on the space station. The program is funded by Boeing and miniPCR bio and supported by the ISS National Laboratory® and New England BioLabs.™ is expanding its capabilities. Boeing is partnering with NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration and the ISS National Lab on a projectthat will test protocols to help expand the current Genes in Space toolkit and offer more possibilities to student researchers.
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