NASA sends four health and agriculture studies to ISS via SpaceX

NASA is utilizing the SpaceX CRS-35 commercial resupply mission to transport four scientific studies to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, focuses on human health, agriculture, and microbiology.

One key study involves testing laboratory-grown, miniature 3D human brain tissue models. These models will spend five weeks in orbit to allow researchers to compare them with Earth-based samples, specifically investigating how microgravity affects nervous tissue and cellular stress. This research aims to develop countermeasures for long-duration missions to the Moon and beyond.

Additional research includes studying plant diseases in microgravity by comparing molecular and structural changes in fungus-infected plants on the ISS versus those on Earth. This work seeks to develop more resilient crop varieties to support long-term space agriculture. The mission also includes studies on antibiotic-resistant bacteria and will carry a new sample analyzer to the station.