Manufacturing artificial retinas and heart cells in the vacuum of space

Space · Published 13 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The International Space Station is becoming a high-tech foundry for human medicine. By leveraging microgravity, scientists are developing 3D heart cell models and artificial retinas that could revolutionize terrestrial healthcare, while simultaneously preparing the station for its eventual deorbit.

The International Space Station (ISS) serves as a unique laboratory where microgravity enables biological research impossible on Earth. One of the most ambitious goals involves manufacturing artificial retinas in orbit to potentially restore vision for patients on Earth. Additionally, the station is used to create 3D heart cell models, which are designed to advance large-scale drug testing for future space missions.

Beyond medicine, the ISS is a hub for diverse scientific investigations, including biology, biotechnology, Earth and space science, and physical sciences. Recent missions are specifically tasked with transporting brain organoids to the orbital complex to identify treatment targets for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis. These experiments are part of a broader effort to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit and build the foundation for the Artemis program and future missions to Mars.

Logistics are critical to these scientific breakthroughs. Future operations feature the first Cygnus voyage by a private American cargo craft. Additionally, the 35th SpaceX commercial resupply flight is planned. The final IROSA units for the International Space Station will be transported by the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Astronauts will install these during future spacewalks to provide the power necessary for critical operations, including the station's eventual safe and controlled deorbit.

The human element remains central to this work. The Expedition 36/37 mission features a diverse international crew, including NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano. They join a team that has lived and worked continuously aboard the station for more than 25 years, pushing the boundaries of what humanity can achieve in space.

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