Space Station Research and Technology

NASA astronaut Suni Williams photographing InSPACE-3 vial assembly after particles redistribution operation on the International Space Station. (NASA)

The Self-assembling Particles That Come From InSPACE

Shape-shifting malleable, gelatinous forms are orbiting the Earth at this very moment -- growing as they are bombarded by magnetic pulses.

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Space Station Research Programs: Human Research Program

Studies the effects of the space environment on humans.

Space Station Research Programs: National Laboratory ...

Coordinates space station research with other government agencies, academia, and the private sector.

Research Programs: Science Mission Directorate

NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) conducts scientific studies of the Earth from space to visit and peers out into our Galaxy and beyond.

Research & Technology on the Space Station

    The International Space Station is an unprecedented achievement in global human endeavors to conceive, plan, build, operate, and utilize a research platform in space. With the assembly of the space station at its completion and the support of a full-time crew of six, a new era of utilization for research has begun.

Space Station Research Structure and Goals

  • NASA Research

    NASA's research goals for the space station are driven by the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 and are focused on the following four areas: human health and exploration, technology testing for enabling future exploration, research in basic life and physical sciences, and earth and space science.

  • National Laboratory Research

    The 2005 NASA Authorization Act designated the U.S segment of the space station as a national laboratory. As the Nation's only national laboratory on-orbit, the space station National Lab will improve life on Earth, foster relationships among NASA, other Federal entities, and the private sector, and advance STEM education through utilization of the space station's unique capabilities as a permanent microgravity platform with exposure to the space environment.

  • Education

    Space station educational activities have had a positive impact on thousands of students by involving them in station research, and by using the station to teach them the science and engineering that are behind space exploration. Visit the Educator's page and the Kid's page for more.

  • International Partner Research

    The space station represents the culmination of over two decades of dedicated effort by an international team of agencies spanning Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia and the United States. While the various space agency partners may emphasize different aspects of research to achieve their goals in the use of space station, they are unified in utilizing the space station to its full potential as a research platform.

Space Station Research and Technology

    The Space Station Research and Technology page is maintained by the Office of the International Space Station (ISS) Program Scientist. The ISS Program Science Office ensures science leadership at the highest level within the ISS Program Office, represents all research on the space station, and provides recommendations to the ISS Program Manager and to the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD), NASA Headquarters, regarding research on the space station. We also consolidate and communicate the research, from experimental design to results, that is performed on the space station. The space station Program Science Office is located within the Space Station Research Integration Office at NASA/Johnson Space Center.

    ISS Research Integration Office, Rod Jones, Manager, 281-244-7941

    ISS Program Science Office, Julie Robinson, Program Scientist, 281-483-5582
    ISS Research & Technology: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/
    Ensures science leadership at the highest level within the ISS Program Office, represents all research on the space station.

    ISS Technology Demonstration Office, George C. Nelson, Manager, 281-244-8514
    www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/tdemo/index
    For NASA-funded Astrophysics, Heliophysics, Space & Earth Sciences investigations, NASA-funded Technology Development investigations, and DoD investigations.

    ISS National Laboratory Office, Mike Read, Manager, 281-244-7656
    www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/nlab/
    For other government agency funded investigations and non-profit / commercially funded investigations.

    Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications / ISS NASA Research Office, Sharon Conover, Manager, 281-244-8158 www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/slpsra/index.html/
    For NASA-funded Human Research Program investigations, NASA-funded Physical Science investigations, and NASA-funded Life Science investigations.

    If you have additional questions that are not covered here, please call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail us at jsc-iss-research-helpline@mail.nasa.gov. The phone is staffed during regular business hours, or messages may be issued after hours, and a representative will return the call on the next business day.

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More About Space Station Research

  • Just for Researchers

    Space Station
    for Researchers

    Discover how NASA partners with industry, academia and federal, state, regional and local entities for research and development.

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  • Space Station
    for Kids

    Are you a student interested in some of the cool experiments and activities related to space station science and technology? Visit us here.

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  • Space Station
    for Educators

    Are you an educator with ideas for projects or experiments that could be done on ISS? Interested in getting involved in ISS educational programs? Want useful media to explain microgravity concepts and activities? Visit us here.

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  • Station Research Benefits

    Several patents and applications have already demonstrated Earth benefits of the public's investment in ISS research.

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Related ISS Research Resources

Blog: A Lab Aloft

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International Research Partners

ISS Research Twitter Updates

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