NSF-funded Fundamental Science in Space Benefits Earth

October 11, 2023 • By Amy Thompson, Team Author

Orbiting 250 miles overhead, the Intercontinental House Station (ISS) delivers a unique natural environment that allows study not attainable on Earth. These experiments lay the basis for precious scientific discoveries that boost the life of folks on the floor. By means of a collaboration with the ISS Countrywide Laboratory^®, businesses like the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) offer funding for investigation that leverages this a single-of-a-kind platform in room to progress humanity’s elementary being familiar with of science.

As the leader of NSF’s Directorate for Engineering, Susan Margulies guides the company on its mission to renovate our earth for a much better tomorrow by driving discovery, inspiring innovation, enriching instruction, and accelerating entry. At this year’s Worldwide Space Station Exploration and Development Conference (ISSRDC), Margulies talked over the benefits of conducting science in reduced Earth orbit in a discussion moderated by Waleed Abdalati, of the Cooperative Institute for Investigation in Environmental Sciences at the College of Colorado Boulder.

“On Earth, we have couple of options to reduce the phenomenon of gravity, but only for a couple of seconds or minutes at best,” Margulies reported all through the session. “The Worldwide Space Station offers us an possibility to eliminate gravity’s consequences for weeks at a time, which can deliver deep perception into essential science processes getting place—this is massively important.”

One particular investigation that Margulies reviewed was from a crew of researchers at Circumstance Western Reserve College. The workforce created a job that flew to the area station in 2019 to much better comprehend how flames behave in confined areas. The experiment, which was funded by NSF, leveraged microgravity ailments to study the underlying physics of confined flames to strengthen fire safety products for properties and other structures.

Margulies also reviewed attempts to broaden the discipline of tissue engineering in place and highlighted an investigation from scientists at Stanford University concentrated on heart cells in microgravity. The crew examined regardless of whether engineered coronary heart muscle mass tissue grown in microgravity can be applied as a design for coronary heart failure to display prospective new prescription drugs.

“We assume of the Worldwide House Station as a amazing laboratory that truly positive aspects life on Earth,” she said. “So, we’re funding investigate in place for the objective of really understanding and strengthening our everyday living on Earth.”

In accordance to Margulies, NSF is thrilled to aid researchers get science to new heights by offering funding to assistance tasks that consider edge of the beneficial investigate system offered by the ISS Countrywide Lab.

As a exploration scientist with practical experience in area science and a latest member of the board of directors for the Heart for the Improvement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™), which manages the ISS Countrywide Lab, Abdalati echoed the importance of scientific discovery that accessibility to the unique microgravity surroundings of the area station supplies.

“When we chat about discovery, the area station provides incredible and strong chances for just that,” Abdalati stated for the duration of the session. “And it is remarkable to not only see corporations like NSF provide these solicitations but also to see the reaction from researchers and experts who want to send out their research to room and expand our knowing of science.”

Find out much more about basic science investigations being executed in house in a standpoint short article by Margulies in the hottest concern of Upward, the official journal of the ISS Nationwide Lab.