1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,840
[ MUSIC ]

2
00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:08,250
Those striving to develop their products and conduct research beyond Earth's atmosphere

3
00:00:08,250 --> 00:00:13,030
are seeing their visions come to life through the International Space Station National Lab

4
00:00:13,030 --> 00:00:20,190
and partnerships with NASA. NASA, in turn, is gaining new resources to aid in its mission

5
00:00:20,190 --> 00:00:30,690
of exploration and discovery. Thanks to these partnerships, the world is benefiting

6
00:00:30,690 --> 00:00:33,620
from the ingenuity of those who are taking their ideas to gravity's edge. 

7
00:00:33,620 --> 00:00:37,490
A Growing Market at Gravity's Edge - A NASA ScienceCast

8
00:00:37,490 --> 00:00:41,450
From transportation, to satellite deployment, to in-space research,

9
00:00:41,450 --> 00:00:49,000
a vibrant commercial space economy has been developing, and its value now exceeds $345 billion!

10
00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:56,380
Mike Read is the Manager of the ISS Business and Economic Development Office at Johnson Space Center.

11
00:00:56,380 --> 00:01:02,700
He explains some of the benefits of NASA investing in the commercial economy in space.

12
00:01:02,700 --> 00:01:09,860
"Commercialization of low-Earth orbit frees up resources NASA needs to continue its exploration of space.

13
00:01:09,860 --> 00:01:17,070
Even as NASA prepares to return to the Moon, go to Mars and continues engaging with other space missions,

14
00:01:17,070 --> 00:01:20,770
we'll always need a platform in low-Earth orbit.

15
00:01:20,770 --> 00:01:28,630
That platform enables crew training, advanced systems development, and fundamental and applied research.

16
00:01:28,630 --> 00:01:33,940
But, expanding use of the space station to commercial companies enables a new market.

17
00:01:33,940 --> 00:01:39,660
By having the commercial sector join us, we can continue our space exploration,

18
00:01:39,660 --> 00:01:44,900
while providing access to a platform that helps create jobs, build revenues,

19
00:01:44,900 --> 00:01:50,280
and ultimately create many new products that are beneficial to people on Earth." 

20
00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:56,530
In terms of research, many companies are making use of the ISS U.S. National Laboratory,

21
00:01:56,530 --> 00:02:01,540
to run their research and technology development investigations in microgravity.

22
00:02:01,540 --> 00:02:06,270
They include well-known corporations like Procter & Gamble, who have used the station

23
00:02:06,270 --> 00:02:11,120
to study colloids with a goal of improving the quality and lifespan of their products,

24
00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,580
such as shampoo and laundry fabric softener.

25
00:02:14,580 --> 00:02:18,760
Merck, the multinational pharmaceutical company, uses the National Lab

26
00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,590
to study the growth properties of 3-dimensional protein crystals.

27
00:02:22,590 --> 00:02:28,100
Their work could lead to more effective delivery systems for cancer treatments.

28
00:02:28,100 --> 00:02:34,130
Even companies not as well known right now are seeing big dividends coming from their research.

29
00:02:34,130 --> 00:02:38,380
LambdaVision, for example, is using the microgravity conditions on the station

30
00:02:38,380 --> 00:02:42,930
to advance the development for treating the effects of retinal degeneration,

31
00:02:42,930 --> 00:02:47,770
with the goal of restoring the vision of those people affected by it.

32
00:02:47,770 --> 00:02:50,960
In addition to research opportunities, the space station contributes

33
00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:56,080
to expanding the space economy in other ways. Read explains: 

34
00:02:56,080 --> 00:03:00,400
"The capabilities of launch providers such as SpaceX and Northrup Gruman

35
00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,500
have grown dramatically over the last decade.

36
00:03:03,500 --> 00:03:07,710
The cost of placing cargo into orbit has dropped dramatically,

37
00:03:07,710 --> 00:03:11,700
which opens up the space marketplace to many more non-governmental entities

38
00:03:11,700 --> 00:03:15,970
who simply could not afford the costs of reaching space before.

39
00:03:15,970 --> 00:03:22,350
Now, SpaceX has brought astronauts to the station from American soil for the first time since 2011,

40
00:03:22,350 --> 00:03:27,180
and the first time ever on a privately-owned launch system.

41
00:03:27,180 --> 00:03:33,650
The Commercial Crew Program provides a huge long-term benefit for both private companies and NASA.

42
00:03:33,650 --> 00:03:39,060
Today, thanks in part to the space station, commercial and other non-governmental entities

43
00:03:39,060 --> 00:03:42,890
are entering the space economy in significant numbers.

44
00:03:42,890 --> 00:03:48,560
What these new partnerships can accomplish together will drive the in-space marketplace,

45
00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:57,170
and NASA's grandest missions, to new heights, as well as improving quality of life for people on Earth.

46
00:03:57,170 --> 00:04:06,170
For more science and research from the International Space Station, go to www.nasa.gov/iss-science

47
00:04:06,170 --> 00:04:27,179
To discover more about the space on, around, and beyond our planet visit science.nasa.gov