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By NASA
NASA and Northrop Grumman are preparing to send the company’s next cargo mission to the International Space Station, flying research to support Artemis missions to the Moon and human exploration of Mars and beyond, while improving life on Earth. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch Northrop Grumman’s 23rd commercial resupply services mission to the orbiting laboratory.
The investigations aboard the Cygnus spacecraft aim to refine semiconductor crystals for next-generation technologies, reduce harmful microbes, improve medication production, and manage fuel pressure.
NASA, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX are targeting launch in mid-September from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Read about some of the investigations traveling to the space station:
Better semiconductor crystals
Optical micrograph of a semiconductor composite wafer with embedded semimetal phases extracted from a space grown crystal in the SUBSA facility during Mission 1United Semiconductors LLC Researchers are continuing to fine-tune in-space production of semiconductor crystals, which are critical for modern devices like cellphones and computers.
The space station’s microgravity environment could enable large-scale manufacturing of complex materials, and leveraging the orbiting platform for crystal production is expected to lead to next-generation semiconductor technologies with higher performance, chip yield, and reliability.
“Semiconductor devices fabricated using crystals from a previous mission demonstrated performance gain by a factor of two and device yield enhanced by a factor of 10 compared to Earth-based counterparts,” said Partha S. Dutta, principal investigator, United Semiconductors LLC in Los Alamitos, California.
Dutta highlighted that three independent parties validated microgravity’s benefits for growing semiconductor crystals and that the commercial value of microgravity-enhanced crystals could be worth more than $1 million per kilogram (2.2 pounds).
Space-manufactured crystals could help meet the need for radiation-hardened, low-power, high-speed electronics and sensors for space systems. They also could provide reduced power use, increased speed, and improved safety. The technology also has ground applications, including electric vehicles, waste heat recovery, and medical tools.
Learn more about the SUBSA-InSPA-SSCug experiment.
Lethal light
Germicidal Ultraviolet (UV) light is emitted by an optical fiber running through the center of an agar plateArizona State University Researchers are examining how microgravity affects ultraviolet (UV) light’s ability to prevent the formation of biofilms — communities of microbes that form in water systems. Investigators developed special optical fibers to deliver the UV light, which could provide targeted, long-lasting, and chemical-free disinfection in space and on Earth.
“In any water-based system, bacterial biofilms can form on surfaces like pipes, valves, and sensors,” said co-investigator Paul Westerhoff, a professor at Arizona State University in Tempe. “This can cause serious problems like corrosion and equipment failure, and affect human health.”
The UV light breaks up DNA in microorganisms, preventing them from reproducing and forming biofilms. Preliminary evidence suggests biofilms behave differently in microgravity, which may affect how the UV light reaches and damages bacterial DNA.
“What we’ll learn about biofilms and UV light in microgravity could help us design safer water and air systems not just for space exploration, but for hospitals, homes, and industries back on Earth,” Westerhoff said.
Learn more about the GULBI experiment.
Sowing seeds for pharmaceuticals
NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara displays the specialized sample processor used for pharmaceutical research aboard the International Space StationNASA An investigation using a specialized pharmaceutical laboratory aboard the space station examines how microgravity may alter and enhance crystal structures of drug molecules. Crystal structure can affect the production, storage, effectiveness, and administration of medications.
“We are exploring drugs with applications in cardiovascular, immunologic, and neurodegenerative disease as well as cancer,” said principal investigator Ken Savin of Redwire Space Technologies in Greenville, Indiana. “We expect microgravity to yield larger, more uniform crystals.”
Once the samples return to Earth, researchers at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, will examine the crystal structures.
The investigators hope to use the space-made crystals as seeds to produce significant numbers of crystals on Earth.
“We have demonstrated this technique with a few examples, but need to see if it works in many examples,” Savin said. “It’s like being on a treasure hunt with every experiment.”
This research also helps enhance and expand commercial use of the space station for next-generation biotechnology research and in-space production of medications.
Learn more about the ADSEP PIL-11 experiment.
Keeping fuel cool
iss0NASA astronaut Joe Acaba installs hardware for the first effort in 2017 aboard the International Space Station to test controlling pressure in cryogenic fuel tanksNASA Many spacecraft use cryogenic or extremely cold fluids as fuel for propulsion systems. These fluids are kept at hundreds of degrees below zero to remain in a liquid state, making them difficult to use in space where ambient temperatures can vary significantly. If these fluids get too warm, they turn into gas and boiloff, or slowly evaporate and escape the tank, affecting fuel efficiency and mission planning.
A current practice to prevent this uses onboard fuel to cool systems before transferring fuel, but this practice is wasteful and not feasible for Artemis missions to the Moon and future exploration of Mars and beyond. A potential alternative is using special gases that do not turn into liquids at cold temperatures to act as a barrier in the tank and control the movement of the fuel.
Researchers are testing this method to control fuel tank pressure in microgravity. It could save an estimated 42% of propellant mass per year, according to Mohammad Kassemi, a researcher at NASA’s National Center for Space Exploration Research and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
The test could provide insights that help improve the design of lightweight, efficient, long-term in-space cryogenic storage systems for future deep space exploration missions.
Learn more about the ZBOT-NC experiment.
Download high-resolution photos and videos of the research highlighted in this feature.
Learn more about the research aboard the International Space Station at:
www.nasa.gov/iss-science
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By NASA
4 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
Researchers Kelly Gilkey, Cy Peverill, Daniel Phan, Chase Haddix, and Ariel Tokarz test portable, handheld X-ray systems for use during future long-duration space missions at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland on Friday, March 21, 2025. Credit: NASA/Sara Lowthian-Hanna As NASA plans future human exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, new and unique challenges emerge — like communication delays and limited return-to-Earth options — so enhanced medical care capabilities are critical. Crews will need non-invasive imaging technology to diagnose medical conditions, like broken bones or dental injuries.
Scientists at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland are testing portable, handheld X-ray systems for use during future extended space missions. Having portable X-ray capabilities aboard spacecraft would allow astronauts to immediately assess and treat potential injuries or identify equipment issues without having to disassemble the gear.
“Technological innovations like that of the mini-X-ray will help keep our astronauts healthy as we endeavor farther into space than ever before,” said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. “Future missions to the Moon and Mars will be safer due to the research of our scientists at NASA Glenn.”
NASA reviewed more than 200 commercial systems — analyzing size, weight, image quality, ease-of-use, cost, and safety — and selected three systems for further testing: MinXray, Remedi, and Fujifilm.
“We’re working to provide evidence on why a mini-X-ray system should be included in future space exploration,” said Dr. Chase Haddix, a senior biomedical engineering research contractor working for Universities Space Research Association at NASA Glenn. “These X-rays could be used to detect both clinical and non-clinical diagnostics, meaning they can check an astronaut’s body or identify the location of a tear in an astronaut suit.”
Researchers capture X-ray images of a shape memory alloy rover tire at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland on Friday, March 21, 2025. Credit: NASA/Sara Lowthian-Hanna NASA Glenn is collaborating with other centers, including NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and radiography experts at University Hospitals and Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland.
“We’re fortunate to have enthusiastic medical and radiography experts right here in our community,” said Dr. Cy Peverill, project task lead at NASA Glenn. “Their knowledge and experience are invaluable as we work to test medical technologies that could significantly improve management of astronaut health on future missions to the Moon or Mars.”
Cuyahoga Community College contributed anatomical phantoms, which are lifelike models of the human body, in its radiography laboratory on the Western Campus and dental hygiene clinical facility at the Metropolitan Campus. Faculty and students consulted with NASA researchers on essential imaging principles, including patient positioning, image acquisition, and image quality.
University Hospitals is partnering with NASA Glenn on a medical study with real patients to compare the performance of the X-ray systems against hospital-grade equipment, focusing on usability, image clarity, and diagnostic accuracy.
“Astronauts live and work in small quarters, much smaller spaces than in a hospital,” Haddix said. “The system must be easy to use since astronauts may not be experienced in radiography. The data from these tests will guide the selection of the most suitable system for future missions.”
Researchers capture X-ray images of an astronaut spacesuit at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland on Friday, March 21, 2025. Credit: NASA/Sara Lowthian-Hanna Using portable X-rays to improve health care in inaccessible areas is not new, with systems deployed to diagnose medical issues in places such as base camps in Nepal and remote villages in South Africa. NASA researchers theorize that if these systems are successful in high elevations and extreme temperatures on Earth, perhaps they are durable enough for space missions.
Glenn researchers will continue to collect data from all collaborators, including from an X-ray system sourced by SpaceX that launched in April during the Fram2 mission. The crew captured the first human X-ray images in space during their four-day mission to low Earth orbit. NASA plans to select a device near the end of 2025 and will test the chosen system aboard the International Space Station in 2026 or early 2027.
The Mars Campaign Office at NASA Headquarters in Washington and the agency’s Human Research Program at NASA Johnson fund this work as both organizations focus on pursuing technologies and methods to support safe, productive human space travel.
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By European Space Agency
In the past decade, the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission has revealed the nature, history, and behaviour of billions of stars. Our pioneering stargazer has reshaped our view of the skies around us like no other, revealing that star clusters are more connected than expected over vast distances.
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By NASA
3 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
The high-altitude WB-57 aircraft departed July 8, 2025, from Ellington Field in Houston, Texas, headed to the Texas Hill Country. The aircraft will use the DyNAMITE (Day/Night Airborne Motion Imager for Terrestrial Environments) sensor system to take video mosaics of the area to assist with the emergency response effort. Photo Credit: NASA/Morgan Gridley In response to recent flooding near Kerrville, Texas, NASA deployed two aircraft to assist state and local authorities in ongoing recovery operations.
The aircraft are part of the response from NASA’s Disasters Response Coordination System, which is activated to support emergency response for the flooding and is working closely with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the humanitarian groups Save the Children and GiveDirectly.
Persistent cloud-cover has made it difficult to obtain clear satellite imagery, so the Disasters Program coordinated with NASA’s Airborne Science Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston to conduct a series of flights to gather observations of the impacted regions. NASA is sharing these data directly with emergency response teams to inform their search and rescue efforts and aid decision-making and resource allocation.
The high-altitude WB-57 aircraft operated by NASA Johnson departed from Ellington Field on July 8 to conduct aerial surveys. The aircraft is equipped with the DyNAMITE (Day/Night Airborne Motion Imager for Terrestrial Environments) sensor.
The DyNAMITE sensor views the Guadalupe River[KA1] [RC2] and several miles of the surrounding area, providing high-resolution imagery critical to assessing damage and supporting coordination of ground-based recovery efforts. This system enables real-time collection and analysis of data, enhancing situational awareness and accelerating emergency response times.
In addition, the agency’s Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) is flying out of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, aboard a Gulfstream III. Managed by the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the UAVSAR team is planning to collect observations over the Guadalupe, San Gabriel, and Colorado river basins Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Because UAVSAR can penetrate vegetation to spot water that optical sensors are unable to detect, the team’s goal is to characterize the extent of flooding to help with understanding the amount of damage within communities.
Flights are being coordinated with FEMA, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and local responders to ensure data is quickly delivered to those making decisions on the ground. Imagery collected will be sent to NASA’s Disaster Response Coordination System.
Additionally, the Disasters Program, which is part of NASA’s Earth Science Division, is working to produce maps and data to assess the location and severity of flooding in the region and damage to buildings and infrastructure. These data are being shared on the NASA Disasters Mapping Portal as they become available.
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Last Updated Jul 09, 2025 Related Terms
Earth Applied Sciences Program Earth Science Division Ellington Field Floods General Jet Propulsion Laboratory Johnson Space Center NASA Aircraft NASA Headquarters Science Mission Directorate WB-57 Explore More
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By USH
In 1992, Dr. Gregory Rogers a NASA flight surgeon and former Chief of Aerospace Medicine witnessed an event that would stay with him for more than three decades. Now, after years of silence, he’s finally revealing the details of a 15-minute encounter that shattered everything he thought he knew about aerospace technology.
With a distinguished career that includes support for 31 space shuttle launches, training as an F-16 pilot, and deep involvement in classified aerospace programs, Dr. Rogers brings unmatched credibility to the conversation. His firsthand account of observing what appeared to be a reverse-engineered craft, emblazoned with "U.S. Air Force" markings, raises profound questions about the true timeline of UAP development and disclosure.
The full interview spans nearly two hours. To help navigate the discussion, here’s a timeline so you can jump to the segments that interest you most.
00:00 Introduction and Dr. Rogers' Unprecedented Credentials 07:25 The 1992 Cape Canaveral Encounter Begins 18:45 Inside the Hangar: First Glimpse of the Craft 26:30 "We Got It From Them" - The Shocking Revelation 35:15 Technical Analysis: Impossible Flight Characteristics 43:40 Electromagnetic Discharges and Advanced Propulsion 52:20 The Cover Story and 33 Years of Silence 1:01:10 Why He's Speaking Out Now: Grush and Fravor's Influence 1:08:45 Bob Lazar Connections and Reverse Engineering Timeline 1:17:20 Flight Surgeon Stories: The Human Side of Classified Work 1:25:50 G-Force Brain Injuries: An Unreported Military Crisis 1:34:30 Columbia Disaster: When Safety Warnings Are Ignored 1:43:15 The Bureaucratic Resistance to Truth 1:50:40 Congressional Testimony and The Path Forward 1:58:25 Final Thoughts: Legacy vs. Truth
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