ISS mission to launch biomedical and physical science research

ISS mission to launch biomedical and physical science research
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 05, 2024

This weekend, a variety of novel biomedical investigations, technology demonstrations, and physical science projects are set to launch to the International Space Station (ISS). Northrop Grumman's 21st Commercial Resupply Services (NG-21) mission, contracted by NASA, will deliver over 900 pounds of essential research and supplies, including more than 20 payloads sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory. The mission is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station no earlier than Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 11:28 a.m. EDT.

Here are some of the key ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations on the NG-21 mission that aim to benefit humanity and advance commercial activities in low Earth orbit:

Three of these projects are also funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). They include:

A project from Florida International University will study the behavior of tiny, engineered particles dispersed in a liquid to form an active colloid. The team aims to explore these particles' potential to harness energy from their surroundings for self-propulsion. The findings could lead to applications in targeted drug delivery, disease screening, water desalination, and photothermal therapies for treating cancer and other diseases.

An investigation from Northeastern University will examine the physics of small particles of different sizes in a fluid that cluster to form a colloidal gel. Understanding these particles' behavior is crucial for various industries, including food, medicine, construction, and electronics.

A project from Notre Dame will study bubble formation in microgravity to create highly sensitive biosensors for detecting trace substances in liquids. The team will use light to generate bubbles that can collect, concentrate, and deposit trace amounts of substances onto a surface for analysis. This project builds on prior ISS National Lab-sponsored research and could lead to new sensor technologies for early cancer marker detection in blood.

Two projects are focused on stem cell production in space to enhance patient care on Earth. One investigation from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center will test whether human induced pluripotent stem cells (iSPCs) grow and divide more rapidly in microgravity. Results could help develop methods for large-scale in-space biomanufacturing of stem cell-derived products, potentially leading to new treatments for heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and other conditions. The second project, by BioServe, aims to develop a novel stem cell expansion bioreactor and protocols for its space use.

Sphere Entertainment Co. is in the second phase of testing Big Sky, an ultra-high-resolution, single-sensor camera, on the space station. In the first phase, launched in November 2022, a commercial off-the-shelf camera gathered baseline data while astronauts tested its use in space. The second phase will involve testing Big Sky, developed by Sphere Entertainment to capture content for Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium in Las Vegas, inside the ISS. Big Sky, featuring the world's largest image sensor and the sharpest cinematic lenses, captures detailed, large-format images like never before. This mission will validate Big Sky's proper functioning, operations, and video downlink in microgravity conditions to inform future research.