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The ISS National Lab is a gateway to cutting-edge research and technology that simply cannot be conducted on Earth. SpaceX’s 29th contracted commercial resupply mission with NASA successfully brought back over 30 research payloads, many of which were vital life science investigations, from the ISS National Laboratory to Earth on Friday. This mission allowed researchers to take advantage of unique research opportunities and technology not available on our home planet.
Among the payloads that returned on SpaceX CRS-29 were microbes sent by the Naval Research Laboratory to the ISS National Lab. Their goal is to better understand how microgravity and space radiation affect the production of melanin by these microbes, with potential applications in drug delivery and protective coatings for spacecraft and spacesuits. In addition, the University of California, San Francisco sent 3D immune-liver tissue chips into space to study the relationship between immune system aging and liver cell regeneration, potentially leading to new therapies on Earth.
Meanwhile, researchers from the University of California, San Diego studied microgravity’s effects on stem-cell derived brain organoids to better understand cognitive decline in the human brain. Their work could pave the way for new treatments for dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, Emory University’s continued research on-station is examining how microgravity affects the growth and function of heart muscle cells, with implications for heart disease modeling and the development of new therapies on our planet.
Lastly, a project from Biotech startup Axonis is exploring how microgravity affects the maturation of human brain cells, which could lead to improved disease modeling and treatments for neurological disorders. This groundbreaking research is just one example of the invaluable science and discoveries taking place at the ISS National Lab.