What happens to the human brain when it leaves Earth?
In short: NASA is sending lab-grown models of the human brain into orbit for five weeks. By comparing these tissue samples with identical ones kept on Earth, researchers aim to see how microgravity affects our most complex organ at a cellular level.
The SpaceX 35th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-35) mission, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on October 13, 2026, carries more than 6,300 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station. While much of this provides essential supplies and hardware, a significant portion is dedicated to advancing research that benefits life on Earth and prepares for future human exploration beyond our planet.
A primary focus of the mission is precision health. One investigation involves sending small, lab-grown brain models to orbit to study how spaceflight impacts cellular structures. This work is critical for understanding how astronauts respond to stress and identifying methods to counter neurological risks during long-duration missions to the Moon and beyond. Additionally, the mission carries a compact microplate reader designed to detect biomarkers like antibodies and proteins in real-time, allowing scientists to diagnose infections aboard the station without waiting months for samples to return to Earth.
Beyond human biology, CRS-35 addresses global food security and space agriculture. The cargo includes experiments to see if crop diseases develop faster or more severely in microgravity. By comparing molecular changes in plants infected with fungus on Earth versus those grown in space, researchers hope to improve plant breeding for disease resistance. These crops are not just for nutrition; they serve as vital life-support components that recycle water, produce oxygen, and absorb carbon dioxide during extended missions.
The mission also serves as a bridge for education and infrastructure. It carries two student-built CubeSats, moving university engineering projects into orbit, and delivers hardware to roll out new solar arrays. These upgrades are essential for maintaining the station's power supply at its altitude of 250 miles above Earth.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: NASA's SpaceX 35th Commercial Resupply Services Launch
- Also: NASA’s SpaceX 35th Commercial Resupply Services Launch
- Also: NASA’s SpaceX CRS-35 Mission to Launch Health Research
- Also: NASA's SpaceX CRS-35 - NASA
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