Latest news with #ISSNationalLab-sponsored
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New Wearable Tech Tracks Astronauts' Sleep Quality on International Space Station
ISS National Lab-sponsored research on Axiom Mission 4 tests wearable tech to collect, analyze sleep data and readiness for critical tasks KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Everyone needs a good night's sleep to perform at their best—including astronauts. A technology demonstration launching to the International Space Station (ISS) on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) will test a wearable device that collects biometric data such as total sleep time and heart rate variability during sleep. The project, sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory®, is a collaborative effort between Booz Allen, Axiom Space, and Oura. The demonstration aims to utilize edge computing to process and analyze biometric data in near real time, enabling crew members to make informed decisions about whether they are prepared for critical tasks. "This technology will provide crew members with detailed insights into their sleep quality and biometrics, which will help them to understand how this directly impacts their fitness and ability to best execute their duties the next day," said Josh Arceneaux, director of human space flight at Booz Allen. If successful, the demonstration would highlight the potential to eliminate the need for ground communication for certain activities, allowing crew members to operate more autonomously. This capability will be increasingly vital for future long-duration missions, such as those to Mars, where communication delays and other challenges will become more prevalent. As with many commercial devices that track data on personal physical condition and performance, the information collected by each Oura Ring is sent to the company's corporate cloud for analysis and storage and then provided to the user via a smartphone app. In orbit, the data will be processed by an edge computing device and provided directly to the crew member for evaluation. "Ultimately, this demonstration will showcase whether we can collect, store, and analyze that data and empower crew members to make decisions without needing to connect to the ground," Arceneaux said. "This is part of a bigger objective to move abilities we're accustomed to having on the ground to use in spaceflight." Ax-4 is scheduled to launch no earlier than June 10, 2025, at 8:22 a.m. EDT, from Florida. For additional information on ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations launching on Ax-4, visit our launch page. To learn more about the research and technology development sponsored by the ISS National Lab, visit our website. Download a high-resolution image for this release: Astronauts Test Wearable Tech 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® (CASIS®) 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 904-806-0035PONeill@ International Space Station (ISS) National LaboratoryManaged by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space® (CASIS®) 1005 Viera Blvd., Suite 101, Rockledge, FL 32955 • 321.253.5101 • View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE International Space Station National Lab Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New Space-Based Research May Pave the Way for First Astronaut with Diabetes
ISS National Lab-sponsored study launching on Axiom Mission 4 to advance diabetes management in space KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- An investigation launching to the International Space Station (ISS) on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) aims to advance diabetes management in microgravity and open access to space for more people. Researchers will demonstrate the accuracy of glucose monitoring and the viability of insulin on the ISS, with the long-term goal of supporting astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes on future space missions. The ISS National Lab-sponsored project, Suite Ride, is a partnership between Axiom Space and Burjeel Holdings PLC, a healthcare services provider based in the United Arab Emirates. According to the International Diabetes Federation, one in nine adults worldwide—which amounts to nearly 590 million people—are living with diabetes. That number is expected to rise to more than 780 million people by 2045. "Individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes historically have been disqualified from flying to low Earth orbit," said Alex Rubin, medical operations group lead at Axiom Space. "A main objective of the study is to demonstrate that a condition such as this can be accurately monitored and treated in microgravity, with the intent of eventually flying a crew member with the condition." The team is sending several commercially available glucose monitors to the ISS to ensure they maintain a comparable level of accuracy in microgravity. One of the monitors samples interstitial fluid (the fluid filling the spaces between cells in the body) to measure glucose levels. Microgravity causes shifts in body fluids that could affect the accuracy of these devices. "We intend to demonstrate that the monitors can be relied upon, or if there is a difference due to microgravity, that it is something we can calibrate to and resolve," Rubin said. The study will also look at whether microgravity affects the integrity of insulin. Previous research showed that insulin pens can accurately administer doses during spaceflight. For this project, several different types of insulin will be sent to the ISS, with some stored at ambient or room temperature and some in cold stowage. The team will test the samples after they return to determine if microgravity had any effect. Results from this investigation could make it possible to support people with diabetes on future space missions, expanding the pool of those eligible to serve as crew members. Findings could also lead to improvements in diabetes monitoring and care in remote areas on Earth. "If we demonstrate that we can share data between a subject's glucose monitor in orbit and a physician on the ground in near real time, that could be implemented in a telemedicine setting with a clinician serving remote or austere locations on Earth," Rubin said. "If it can work in space, it could work on an oil rig, for example." We have come a long way in monitoring and treating diabetes, Rubin said. "There was a time where there was the perception that people with the disease couldn't do certain things. Today, you can play in the NFL, you can race cars, you can do all sorts of things that may have been difficult before. It only makes sense that the next barrier we break is human spaceflight." Ax-4 is scheduled to launch no earlier than June 10, 2025, at 8:22 a.m. EDT, from Florida. For additional information on ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations launching on Ax-4, visit our launch page. Download a high-resolution image for this release: Axiom Mission 4 Crew 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® (CASIS®) 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'Neill904-806-0035 PONeill@ International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory Managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space® (CASIS®) 1005 Viera Blvd., Suite 101, Rockledge, FL 32955 • 321.253.5101 • View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE International Space Station National Lab
Broadcast Pro
20-04-2025
- Science
- Broadcast Pro
Next mission to ISS features nanomaterials to treat osteoarthritis
SpaceX's 32nd resupply mission for NASA includes ISS National Lab-sponsored biomedical research, physical sciences projects, technology demonstrations and NSF-funded science. A project focused on manufacturing nanomaterials with potential treatments for osteoarthritis and cancer is among several high-impact investigations set to launch aboard SpaceXs 32nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory and funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF), these experiments are designed to both benefit life on Earth and support the growing economy in low Earth orbit (LEO). The mission is scheduled for launch no earlier than April 21, 2025, at 4:15 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Among the key investigations, researchers from the University of Connecticut and Eascra Biotech, supported by Axiom Space, will continue their development of Janus base nanomaterials (JBNs). These synthetic molecules, which self-assemble into structures similar to human DNA, hold promise as injectable therapies for regenerating cartilage in osteoarthritis patients and as vehicles to deliver cancer drugs into solid tumours. Their work, previously featured in Upward, the official magazine of the ISS National Lab, leverages the microgravity environment to enhance nanomaterial production for medical use on Earth. The mission will also carry three NSF-funded experiments that aim to expand fundamental scientific knowledge with real-world applications. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in collaboration with Tec-Masters, scientists will explore how protein solutions behave in microgravity to better understand and potentially prevent the clumping of proteinsa significant hurdle in the production of protein-based pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, a team from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, supported by Leidos, will investigate the formation of ceramic-nanomaterial composites in space. These materials, known for their strength, conductivity, and heat resistance, could be used in energy storage, electronics and advanced nanodevices due to their adaptability in shape and size. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in partnership with Redwire Space Technologies, will examine active liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), a process in which immiscible liquids like oil and water separate. Insights from this phenomenon could lead to the development of soft materials with dynamic, lifelike properties capable of movement, shape-shifting, or self-repairsuitable for future advancements in robotics. Also on board will be the Extant Life Volumetric Imaging System (ELVIS), developed by Portland State University with NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Teledyne Brown Engineering. This advanced microscope uses holographic imaging to capture detailed 3D views of cellular activity, which could deepen our understanding of how life adapts in extreme conditions and contribute to the search for extraterrestrial life. Lastly, Sophie's BioNutrients, supported by BioServe Space Technologies, will explore the viability of producing plant-based protein alternatives using microalgae in space. By studying how microgravity affects protein yield, metabolism, and growth, the research could pave the way for sustainable food sources and bio-based fuel production during long-duration space missions. Collectively, these cutting-edge investigations underscore the ISS National Labs mission to foster innovation that transcends Earthly boundaries, enabling scientific progress that could transform industries both on and off the planet.
Associated Press
18-04-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Next Mission to Space Station Features Nanomaterials to Treat Osteoarthritis, New Materials for Lifelike Robotics, a Holographic Microscope, and More
SpaceX's 32nd resupply mission for NASA includes ISS National Lab-sponsored biomedical research, physical sciences projects, technology demonstrations, and NSF-funded science KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A project to manufacture nanomaterials that could provide new treatments for osteoarthritis and cancer joins a trio of investigations funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and more on SpaceX's 32nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission for NASA to the International Space Station (ISS). These investigations, sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory®, aim to benefit humanity and foster a robust economy in low Earth orbit (LEO). This mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than April 21, 2025, at 4:15 a.m. EDT, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Below are highlights of ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations on this mission. For more information on ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations on this mission, visit our launch page. To learn more about the research and technology development sponsored by the ISS National Lab, including how to propose concepts for future space-based research, visit our website. Download a high-resolution image for this release: SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket 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® (CASIS®) 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. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE International Space Station National Lab
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
ISS National Lab explores the future of space in new podcast 'Between a Rocket and a Hard Space'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. It seems like everyone on Earth — and beyond — is getting into the podcast business these days. The International Space Station National Laboratory just launched "Between a Rocket and a Hard Space," a brand-new podcast that explores the future of space innovation. The series will delve into the discoveries, innovations, projects and personalities helping to forge the future of space. Episodes can be accessed via all major platforms, including Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio, Spotify and YouTube. According to the podcast's webpage, its pun-tastic name reflects the extraordinary challenges and complexities of venturing into the hazardous environment of space, with a focus on the overwhelming benefits that space-based research and development can offer. Related: This Week In Space podcast: Episode 153 — Pathways to Mars "Between a Rocket and a Hard Space" is hosted by Patrick O'Neill, longtime public affairs and outreach lead for the ISS National Lab, which is a government-funded institution that conducts a range of research on the U.S. parts of the station. The new podcast will offer "exclusive insights from scientists, engineers,and visionaries leveraging the unique environment of low Earth orbit to push the boundaries of research and technology development," according to the webpage. Additionally, the podcast will look at the latest important decisions from space industry policymakers; venture capitalists and funding institutions helping to infuse cash into the evolving space economy; and educators on the ground level influencing our greatest resource, those agile young minds hoping to become the next generation of visionaries. Related stories: — International Space Station: Everything you need to know about the orbital laboratory — Low Earth orbit: Definition, theory and facts — New ISS research project will benefit cancer patients on Earth The podcast's first episode is available here. In it, O'Neill chats with ISS National Lab Chief Scientific Officer Michael Roberts about the pioneering science occurring on the venerable orbiting lab and its real-life impact on technology, medicine, and industry. Roberts discusses his unique perspectives on microgravity's expansive role in pharmaceutical research, regenerative medicine, revolutionary materials and in-space manufacturing. O'Neill has been the chief communicator for every space station resupply mission featuring ISS National Lab-sponsored payloads since 2012, and he'll provide his expert experience and insights in each successive podcast episode, drawn from years working in collaboration with veteran innovators and scientists who've kept the International Space Station on our radar.
