International Space Station’s Next Mission to Space Station Carries Research on Vision Loss Treatments and Earth-Viewing Technology

The next resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will carry more than 40 payloads sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory®, including in-space production applications projects, technology demonstrations, life science experiments, and student-led inquiries. These investigations, launching on SpaceX’s 30^th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission, funded by NASA, aim to improve life on Earth through space-based research and foster a sustainable economy in low Earth orbit (LEO).

Below highlights a sample of those payloads, and findings could lead to advances in technology for future spaceflight and the development of novel therapeutics for use both on Earth and in space.

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• Redwire Corporation is partnering with pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly & Company and Butler University for two investigations leveraging Redwire’s Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory (PIL-BOX), a platform to crystallize organic molecules in microgravity. Results from this research could lead to improved therapeutics to treat an array of conditions. This research continues Eli Lilly’s space journey, as the company has launched a variety of investigations to the orbiting laboratory over the years for the benefit of patient care on Earth.
• A collaboration between Boeing and CSIRO (an Australian government agency responsible for scientific research) will test the ability of a Multi-Resolution Scanner to create 3D maps of the space station. To do this, the project will use Astrobee, an autonomous free-flying robotic system on station. This scanner technology could be useful in future exploration efforts and in remote environments for manufacturing and maintenance tasks, such as identifying leaks or checking for damage to systems.
• The National Stem Cell Foundation will continue to examine the mechanisms behind neuroinflammation, a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases. To carry out this study, the research team created 3D brain models derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases as well as primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Additionally, two investigations flying on NASA’s SpaceX CRS-30 mission were selected through the Technology in Space Prize, funded by Boeing and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™), manager of the ISS National Lab, as part of the MassChallenge startup accelerator program.

SOURCE: PRNewswire