How does the space station benefit people on Earth?
EARTH-OBSERVING INSTRUMENTS
External payloads on station provide data that is helping cities reduce urban heat,
farmers better allocate water, and forest managers decrease fire risk.
ROBOTIC ARM TECH
Reducing injury risk for auto assembly workers on Earth
ULTRASOUND PROCEDURES
Bringing health care to places lacking medical facilities
CANCER RESEARCH
Protein crystals made in microgravity are helping scientists create cancer treatment formulas
that can be delivered quickly in a doctor’s office rather than in hours at a clinic.
DNA SEQUENCING
Enabling rapid identification of pathogens in remote locations
IMPROVING CT SCANS
Using X-ray technology developed to observe the universe
PROTEIN CRYSTAL GROWTH
A treatment based on space station findings may slow the progression of a degenerative muscle disease by half,
doubling the lifespan of patients. The drug is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials.
MAKING ARTIFICIAL RETINAS
Experiments are making progress toward microgravity-based manufacturing of artificial retinas,
which could restore vision to the millions of people suffering from retinal diseases.
STUDENTS SPEAK WITH ASTRONAUTS
Inspiring the next generation through ham radio and downlink events
APPLYING STATION HEAT STUDIES ON EARTH
Monitoring infants in incubators and patients during surgery
COLLOIDS IN EVERYDAY PRODUCTS
A series of experiments studying particles suspended in liquid have improved the formula
for Procter & Gamble’s fabric spray and generated three patents.
STUDENT RESEARCH EXPERIMENTS
Sending student science into orbit
ARTIFICIAL BLOOD FOR ANIMALS
Protein crystal research created the building blocks needed for making artificial dog and cat blood.
FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE QUESTIONS
Answering big questions in the field of physics
AIR FILTRATION
A new system used to grow plants in space proved adept at purifying air on Earth,
prolonging produce shelf life and removing the SARS-CoV-2 virus from confined spaces.
International Space Station Benefits for Humanity, 2022
www.nasa.gov/stationbenefits