Projects to fly to the space station on NG-20 include tissue chips, artificial retina production, a new supercomputer and more.

Cape Canaveral, Fla., Jan. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A pair of robotic arms, a plan to develop artificial retinas in space and a new method for making improved optical fibers are among more than 20 payloads sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) national laboratory launched at Northrop Grumman's. 20^Th Business Redistribution Services Mission (NG-20). The Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft will be the first mission to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission, contracted by NASA, will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Florida Not earlier Monday, January 29, 2024.

NG-20 flies more than 900 pounds of supplies, research and technology demonstrations, enabling commerce in low Earth orbit and providing value to our nation through space-based investigations. Here are some scientific studies on this task:

• A tissue chip study funded by the US National Science Foundation will do a test Nanoparticle therapy To treat degenerative joint diseases on earth. Research Group, from University of Connecticutwill evaluate whether the treatment helps maintain human cartilage in the absence of biomechanical loading in microgravity.
• Building on previous research, biotechnology startup Lambdavision will investigate whether a powdered form of the bacteriorhodopsin protein can be dissolved in solution in microgravity. Artificial Retinas. If successful, this would help significantly reduce the mass of objects traveling to the space station, allowing for greater production at lower cost.
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) will test an updated version of HPE Spaceborne Computer-2, a commercial off-the-shelf supercomputer based on HPE EdgeLine and ProLiant servers. The HPE Spaceborne Computer-2 has software that enables performance in the harsh environment of space. The results of this investigation will streamline space-based research by providing rapid data processing in orbit. The insights gained could enable high-performance computing in future long-term missions.
• Flawless Photonics, an optical fiber manufacturing company, is upgrading the space station to test its microgravity-based glass drawing processes at its ZBLAN production site. This investigation aims to demonstrate the theoretical advantages of the product ZBLAN threads in microgravity to eliminate gravity induced defects. By exploiting the unique environment of microgravity, Flawless Photonics aims to develop fibers that offer significantly improved performance for a wide range of applications, including advanced laser systems for space and Earth applications, and telecommunications devices.
• An investigation by space robotics startup GITAI will assess its potential Skillful robotic arm technology Operates outside the space station. The project aims to demonstrate that GITAI's extravehicular robotic systems are capable of operating in space environments. A pair of robotic arms will carry out common team activities and tasks through supervised autonomy and teleoperations from the ground.

These investigations and more will be launched aboard the NG-20 Cygnus spacecraft SS Patricia „Grandma” Hilliard Robertson For the late NASA astronaut, not before Monday, January 29, 2024at 12:29 pm EST From Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Florida.

In addition, the media is invited to speak with selected researchers during the webinar at 1 pm EST, Friday, January 26, 2024. There will be a webinar Live broadcast For the public on the ISS National Lab website and on Zoom App Media. Media interested in participating must register Zoom access Not an hour earlier. Public can participate and benefit #ISSNationalLab Ask researchers questions on social media. We have a recording of the webinar available Start page In a short time.

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About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technological development not possible on Earth. As a public service agency, the ISS National Laboratory® uses this multiuser facility to improve the quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, improve scientific literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market at low cost. Earth's orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are made available to support non-NASA scientific, technical, and educational efforts by U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™) manages the ISS National Laboratory under a cooperative agreement with NASA, providing access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and extreme and varied conditions. Space. To learn more about the ISS National Laboratory, visit us 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 us Donation page.

SOURCE International Space Station National Laboratory