Space-Made Fibers and Novel Biotech Among Research Returning to Earth After Successful Space Station Mission

SpaceX's 30th Commercial Resupply Services Mission for NASA returns to Earth after more than 35 days onboard the International Space Station

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Research on a novel vision loss therapy and space-manufactured optical fibers were among the nearly 565 pounds of science and technology payloads sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory that splashed down off the Florida coast Tuesday morning as NASA concluded SpaceX's 30(th) Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission.

The return of the SpaceX Dragon capsule brings back more than 40 ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations that aim to benefit humanity and foster commerce in low Earth orbit. Among the payloads returning to Earth for analysis are the following:

    --  Three investigations by startups that were past recipients of the
        Technology in Space Prize, funded by Boeing and the Center for the
        Advancement of Science in Space((TM)), manager of the ISS National Lab:
        --  Oculogenex tested a novel gene therapy to prevent and possibly even
            reverse vision loss from age-related macular degeneration, which
            affects more than 200 million people globally.
        --  Encapsulate leveraged the microgravity environment of the space
            station to validate an automated tumor-on-a-chip system that grows
            patient-derived cancer cells to test chemotherapy drugs. Such a
            system could help doctors screen chemotherapy drugs on a patient's
            own cancer cells to determine the best treatment for the patient.


        --  LambdaVision built on results from previous investigations by
            studying whether a powdered form of the protein bacteriorhodopsin
            can be dissolved in a solution in microgravity for the successful
            layer-by-layer manufacturing of artificial retinas. Using powdered
            protein could significantly reduce the mass of materials sent to
            space for manufacturing, allowing increased production at a lower
            cost.


    --  A technology development project from Flawless Photonics sought to
        validate the company's technology for manufacturing high-value,
        optical-quality glass materials, like ZBLAN, in microgravity. ZBLAN can
        perform up to 100 times better than the silica fibers commonly used to
        connect our digital world today, but gravity-induced defects in fibers
        produced on Earth limit its full potential. This project seeks to
        demonstrate that production in microgravity can reduce these defects,
        resulting in higher-quality fibers than can be produced terrestrially.
        Preliminary results demonstrated significant improvements in the
        quantity of optical fiber produced in space. From mid-February to
        mid-March, the company manufactured a total of more than seven miles
        (11.9 km) of optical fiber on station. The kilometers of glass fiber
        drawn in space will now undergo independent analyses to determine if
        they have superior performance characteristics.


    --  The National Stem Cell Foundation continued 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. This concluded the foundation's sixth investigation
        onboard the space station. Results from this research could ultimately
        lead to improved diagnostics and new therapeutics that would benefit
        millions of people worldwide.


    --  Researchers at the University of Connecticut conducted a project funded
        by the U.S. National Science Foundation that sought to produce novel
        materials in space for biomedical applications on Earth, such as the
        repair of damaged cartilage and reduction of joint inflammation. Janus
        base nanomaterials (JBNs) are composite materials that can be used as
        drug carriers in the human body. Through this project, the research team
        aimed to advance in-space manufacturing of JBNs, which could
        significantly improve patient care for orthopedic injuries and
        degenerative joint diseases like arthritis, as there is currently no way
        to repair damaged cartilage.
    --  A project awarded through an ISS National Lab education-focused
        solicitation allowed Oklahoma State University, in collaboration with
        the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Boeing, to study the effects of
        spaceflight on Choctaw heirloom seeds. The seeds were exposed to
        microgravity and space radiation for several months while on station.
        Upon return, Choctaw students will plant the space-flown seeds alongside
        seeds that remained on Earth. They will make predictions about the
        growth of the seeds and observe the plants as they develop. The goal of
        the project is to inspire Native American students to pursue careers in
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

These are just a few of the investigations returning to Earth in the SpaceX Dragon capsule on this mission. To learn more about all of the ISS National Lab payloads on SpaceX CRS-30, please visit our launch page.

To download a high-resolution photo for this release, click here.

About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory(®) allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space((TM)) (CASIS((TM))) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page.

     
     Media Contact: 
     Patrick O'Neill


                       
     904-806-0035


                                    PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org

                         
              
              
                International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory
                               Managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS)


     
     6905 N. Wickham Rd., Suite 500, Melbourne, FL 32940 
              --
               321.253.5101 
              --
         www.ISSNationalLab.org

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SOURCE International Space Station National Lab