How the International Space Station is revolutionizing medicine on Earth

Space · Published 7 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Beyond simple orbit, the International Space Station has become a sophisticated orbital laboratory. From manufacturing stem cells for clinical use to studying how bacteria affects heart health, the research conducted in microgravity is laying the essential groundwork for future human missions to the Moon and Mars.

The International Space Station serves as a bustling workspace where hundreds of simultaneous experiments take place. In 2025 alone, researchers conducted more than 750 investigations. These studies range from studying the resilience of moss spores—which survived vacuum and extreme temperatures to germinate upon return—to investigating how the bacteria causing pneumonia can lead to long-term heart damage. By observing how stem cell-derived heart tissues respond to infection, scientists hope to discover new ways to manage cardiovascular health. Other notable findings include the discovery that moss spores can remain capable of germinating after exposure to UV radiation. Additionally, the station's Microgravity Science Glovebox recently celebrated 100,000 hours of operation, a milestone reached on June 9, 2026.

A significant focus of current research involves the large-scale production of biological materials. During Expedition 74, astronauts worked on the InSPA-StemCellEX-H2 investigation, which aims to demonstrate how to manufacture large quantities of blood stem cells for pharmaceutical and clinical use on Earth. Such advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are critical for both terrestrial medicine and protecting astronaut performance during long-duration deep space missions. Beyond stem cell production, investigations are also exploring how spaceflight influences blood flow and clotting processes. These biomedical studies are central to the Crew-13 mission's objectives.

To manage the intense workload, the station is increasingly utilizing automation. Because many experiments take hours to perform, researchers must account for the limited time available to the crew. New devices, such as Redwire’s ADvanced Space Experiment Processors (ADSEPs), are designed to automate these processes, allowing for more science with less manual crew intervention. This efficiency is vital as NASA prepares for the high-stakes Artemis III mission in 2027, which will test the future of lunar exploration. This technological shift follows a period of significant activity, as the station remained a busy hub for scientific research throughout 2026.

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