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By NASA
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, soars from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Aug. 4, 2024, for Northrop Grumman’s 21st Commercial Resupply Services mission for NASA.Credit: SpaceX Media accreditation is open for the next launch to deliver NASA science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station. A Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft will launch to the orbital laboratory on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for NASA.
The mission is known as NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 23, or Northrop Grumman CRS-23. Liftoff is targeted for mid-September from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Following launch, astronauts aboard the space station will use the Canadarm2 to grapple Cygnus, and the spacecraft will be installed robotically to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port for cargo unloading. The spacecraft will remain at the space station for more than two months.
Credentialing to cover prelaunch and launch activities is open to U.S. media. The application deadline for U.S. citizens is 11:59 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, Aug. 27. All accreditation requests must be submitted online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
Credentialed media will receive a confirmation email upon approval. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online. For questions about accreditation, or to request special logistical support, email: ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For other questions, please contact NASA’s Kennedy Space Center newsroom at: 321-867-2468.
Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitor entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Antonia Jaramillo o Messod Bendayan a: antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov o messod.c.bendayan@nasa.gov.
This is the 23rd spacecraft built to deliver goods to the International Space Station. In March, NASA and Northrop Grumman moved up the company’s Commercial Resupply Services-23 mission to September following damage to the Cygnus Pressurized Cargo Module during shipping for the company’s Commercial Resupply Services-22 flight.
Each resupply mission to the station delivers scientific investigations in the areas of biology and biotechnology, Earth and space science, physical sciences, and technology development and demonstrations. Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver scientific research to the space station, increasing NASA’s ability to conduct new investigations aboard humanity’s laboratory in space.
In addition to food, supplies, and equipment for the crew, Cygnus will deliver research, including materials to produce semiconductor crystals in space and equipment to develop improvements for cryogenic fuel tanks. Cygnus also will deliver a specialized UV light system to prevent biofilm growth and supplies to produce pharmaceutical crystals that could treat cancer and other diseases.
The International Space Station is a convergence of science, technology, and human innovation that enables research not possible on Earth. For almost 25 years, humans have continuously lived and worked aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies that enable us to prepare for human exploration of the Moon and Mars.
Learn more about NASA’s commercial resupply missions at:
https://www.nasa.gov/station
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Josh Finch
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov
Steven Siceloff
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-876-2468
steven.p.siceloff@nasa.gov
Sandra Jones / Joseph Zakrzewski
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov / joseph.a.zakrzewski@nasa.gov
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Last Updated Aug 18, 2025 EditorJessica TaveauLocationNASA Headquarters Related Terms
Commercial Resupply International Space Station (ISS) ISS Research Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply View the full article
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By NASA
On January 7, 2021, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins serviced samples for Bacterial Adhesion and Corrosion. This investigation looked at how spaceflight affects the formation of microbial biofilms and tested a silver-based disinfectant.NASA This November marks a quarter century of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station, which has served as a springboard for developing a low Earth economy and NASA’s next great leaps in exploration, including human missions to the Moon and Mars. To kick off the orbiting laboratory’s silver 25th anniversary countdown, here are a few silver-themed science investigations that have advanced research and space exploration.
Antimicrobial properties
Silver has been used for centuries to fight infection, and researchers use its unique properties to mitigate microbial growth aboard the space station. Over time, microbes form biofilms, sticky communities that can grow on surfaces and cause infection. In space, biofilms can become resistant to traditional cleaning products and could infect water treatment systems, damage equipment, and pose a health risk to astronauts. The Bacterial Adhesion and Corrosion investigation studied the bacterial genes that contribute to the formation of biofilms and tested whether a silver-based disinfectant could limit their growth.
Another experiment focused on the production of silver nanoparticles aboard the space station. Silver nanoparticles have a bigger surface-to-volume ratio, allowing silver ions to come in contact with more microbes, making it a more effective antimicrobial tool to help protect crew from potential infection on future space missions. It also evaluated whether silver nanoparticles produced in space are more stable and uniform in size and shape, characteristics that could further enhance their effectiveness.
Wearable tech
Silver is a high-conductivity precious metal that is very malleable, making it a viable option for smart garments. NASA astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory tested a wearable monitoring vest with silver-coated sensors to record heart rates, cardiac mechanics, and breathing patterns while they slept. This smart garment is lightweight and more comfortable, so it does not disturb sleep quality. The data collected provided valuable insight into improving astronauts’ sleep in space.
Silver crystals
In microgravity, there is no up or down, and weightlessness does not allow particles to settle, which impacts physical and chemical processes. Researchers use this unique microgravity environment to grow larger and more uniform crystals unaffected by the force of Earth’s gravity or the physical processes that would separate mixtures by density. The NanoRacks-COSMOS investigation used the environment aboard the station to grow and assess the 3D structure of silver nitrate crystals. The molecular structure of these superior silver nitrate crystals has applications in nanotechnology, such as creating silver nanowires for nanoscale electronics.
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Last Updated Aug 14, 2025 Related Terms
ISS Research Humans in Space International Space Station (ISS)
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By NASA
Research traveling to the International Space Station aboard NASA’s SpaceX 33rd commercial resupply mission includes testing 3D bioprinting of an implantable medical device, observing behavior of engineered liver tissues, examining microgravity’s effects on bone-forming cells, and additional 3D printing of metal in space. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to launch to the orbiting laboratory in late August.
For nearly 25 years, the International Space Station has provided research capabilities used by scientists from over 110 countries to conduct more than 4,000 groundbreaking experiments in microgravity. Research conducted aboard the space station advances future space exploration – including missions to the Moon and Mars – and provides multiple benefits to humanity.
Read more about some of the latest investigations headed to the orbiting lab.
Better nerve bridge
Eight implantable nerve devices printed on the space station.Auxilium Biotechnologies Scientists are creating an implantable device in microgravity that could support nerve regrowth after injuries. The device is created through bioprinting, a type of 3D printing that uses living cells or proteins as raw materials.
Traumatic injuries can leave a gap between nerves, and existing treatments have limited ability to restore nerve function and may result in impaired physical function. A bioprinted device to bridge the nerve gap could accelerate recovery and preserve function.
“On this mission, we plan to print up to 18 of the implants and anticipate using them in preclinical studies on the ground in 2026 and 2027,” said Jacob Koffler, principal investigator at Auxilium Biotechnologies Inc in San Diego. Tissues bioprinted in microgravity may be higher quality than those made on Earth and results could support future manufacturing of medical devices in space for crew members on space missions and patients on Earth.
Bioprinted tissues with blood vessels
A researcher holds vascularized tissue bioprinted on the ground for study in space.The Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine Researchers plan to bioprint liver tissue containing blood vessels on the ground and examine how the tissue develops in microgravity. Results could help support the eventual production of entire functional organs for transplantation on Earth.
A previous mission tested whether this type of bioprinted liver tissue survived and functioned in space, according to James Yoo, principal investigator at the Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine in Winston-Salem. This round could show whether microgravity improves development of the bioprinted tissue.
“We are especially keen on accelerating the development of vascular networks in the tissue,” Yoo said. Vascular networks produce the blood vessels needed to keep these tissues functional and healthy.
Blocking bone loss
A microscopic image of stem cells derived from human bone marrow stained with red dye.Mayo Clinic A study of bone-forming stem cells in microgravity could provide insight into the basic mechanisms of the bone loss astronauts experience during space flight.
Researchers identified a protein in the body called IL-6 that can send signals to stem cells to promote either bone formation or bone loss. This work evaluates whether blocking IL-6 signals could reduce bone loss during spaceflight.
“If we are successful, the compound also can be evaluated for the treatment of conditions associated with bone loss on Earth, such as osteoporosis and certain types of cancers,” said Abba Zubair, principal investigator at the Mayo Clinic in Florida.
Space printing goes metal
Metal specimens printed on the ground for ESA’s Metal 3D Printer investigation.Airbus Defence and Space SAS As mission duration and distance from Earth increase, resupply becomes harder. Additive manufacturing or 3D printing could be used to make parts and dedicated tools on demand, enhancing mission autonomy.
Research on the space station has made great strides in 3D printing with plastic, but it is not suitable for all uses. The ESA (European Space Agency) Metal 3D Printer investigation builds on recent successful printing of the first metal parts in space.
“We’ll print several small cubes using different strategies to help determine the optimal approach for metal printers in space,” said Rob Postema, ESA technical officer. Quality of the space-printed items will be compared against reference prints made on the ground.
This investigation is a continuation of ESA’s efforts to develop in-space manufacturing and materials recycling capabilities. The ESA investigation team includes Airbus Defence and Space SAS and the User Support Centre CADMOS in France.
Download high-resolution photos and videos of the research mentioned in this article.
Learn more about the research aboard the International Space Station at:
www.nasa.gov/iss-science
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By NASA
3 Min Read Space Station Cell Studies
Cells grown aboard the International Space Station. Credits: University of Connecticut Science in Space August 2025
Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things, from single-celled bacteria to plants and animals containing vast numbers of them. Cells have adapted for a wide variety of settings and functions. Nerve cells in humans and animals, for example, have long, thin extensions that rapidly transmit signals, while rigid, blocky cells support the structure of plants.
Cell biology is the study of cell structure, function, and behavior. For humans, scientists in this field explore the mechanisms of diseases from bone loss to cancer and work on developing treatments.
Cell-based experiments on The International Space Station help identify how spaceflight affects people and other living systems, with applications for future space exploration and life on Earth.
JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa prepares to examine cells for Cell Gravisensing in the JAXA Confocal Microscope (COSMIC).NASA Recent experiments have revealed that individual animal cells react to the effects of gravity, but how they do so is largely unknown. Cell Gravisensing, an investigation from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), examines the molecular mechanism behind the ability of cells to sense gravity. Results could support development of drugs to treat muscle atrophy and osteoporosis in space and on Earth.
Cardiovascular cells
Microscopic view of cells from the lining of blood vessels cultured for the STaARS BioScience-3 experiment. University of Florida In microgravity, some astronauts experience changes in their cardiovascular system, including reduced blood volume and diminished cardiac output. An earlier investigation, STaARS Bioscience-3, examined the mechanisms behind these changes at the cellular and genetic level. The research revealed that, after only three days of spaceflight, there were changes in the expression of more than 11,000 genes in blood vessel cells that could alter their functions. The results laid the groundwork for additional research into cell response to spaceflight that could help protect the health of crew members on future missions and people with cardiovascular diseases on Earth.
Neural cells
STaARS BioScience-4 examined microgravity’s effects on neural stem cells that give rise to central nervous system cells. Researchers found changes in production and consumption of energy and increased breakdown of cellular components in these cells, responses that likely enhance adaptation to microgravity. The finding also highlights the importance of providing astronauts with sufficient energy for cognitive and physiological function on future missions.
Fish cells
A preflight image of samples and sample chambers for the Fish Scales investigation. Mitchell/Prange Goldfish scales have many of the same proteins, minerals, and cell types as the bones of mammals. The JAXA Fish Scales investigation analyzed goldfish scales exposed to three times Earth’s gravity, simulated microgravity, and microgravity on orbit. Researchers determined that goldfish scales can be used as a model to help them understand how human bones respond to spaceflight.
Mouse cells
Research with model organisms like rodents has relevance to humans in space and makes significant contributions to understanding human aging, disease, and the effects of microgravity on biological and physical processes. JAXA’s Stem Cells studied how spaceflight affected the DNA and chromosomes of embryonic mouse stem cells, and their ability to develop into adult mice after return to Earth.
Researchers analyzed unaltered cells and cells given a mutation to increase responsiveness to radiation. They found no chromosomal differences between the unaltered space-flown cells and ground controls, but the mutated cells had more DNA abnormalities. The work could enhance the understanding of radiation effects on human cancer and improve risk assessment for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
NASA astronauts Drew Morgan and Christina Koch work on rodent research hardware. NASA Another study used tissue samples from RR-1, which are available through NASA’s GeneLab open data repository. Analysis showed that the heart can adapt to the stress of spaceflight in just 30 days. The researchers observed genetic changes suggesting that this adaptation may facilitate survival in space and could have applications in treating heart disease in space and on Earth.
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