ISS National Lab Reaches 1,000-Payload Milestone as CASIS Celebrates 15 Years of Leadership

More than 1,000 payloads launched, 675 peer-reviewed publications, and a vibrant research community underscore the value of space-based R&D.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space^® (CASIS^®) celebrates 15 years as manager of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, the organization is highlighting its work to advance science, technology, and commercialization in low Earth orbit.

Since August 2011, more than 1,000 ISS National Lab-sponsored payloads have been delivered to the orbiting laboratory—a milestone met during NASA's Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission. These payloads range from biotechnology and pharmaceutical development to advanced materials, Earth observation, physical sciences, in-space manufacturing, technology development, and student-led investigations. The scientific impact of this ISS National Lab-sponsored research is demonstrated by more than 675 peer-reviewed publications, including more than 20% in top-tier journals. Many of these investigations and their real-world applications have also been highlighted in Upward, the official magazine of the ISS National Lab.

"When I think about our milestone of 1,000 payloads, what stands out is the incredible range of people and ideas behind it," said Robbie Hampton, ISS National Lab director of payload operations. "Each payload represents a team that saw an opportunity to use the space environment to answer a question or test an idea in a way that wasn't possible on Earth. Reaching this milestone demonstrates how broad and diverse that community has become and highlights the role the ISS National Lab has played in expanding access to space-based research and innovation."

The examples below highlight the diverse organizations that have leveraged the ISS National Lab to advance scientific knowledge, technological innovation, and commercial development.

• Fundamental research partnerships: The ISS National Lab has established long-standing partnerships with government agencies like the U.S. National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health to advance critical fundamental science in both the physical and life sciences. Over the years, more than 90 projects have been funded through these government organizations.
• Leading research institutions: Academic and medical institutions across the U.S. have utilized the ISS National Lab to help improve the lives of people on Earth. Stanford University and Cedars-Sinai have conducted space-based research to better understand and treat heart disease. The University of California San Diego is using tumor organoids on the space station to study cancer progression and test new therapeutics. Mayo Clinic used microgravity to improve stem cell production for regenerative medicine applications. The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine studied bioengineered liver tissues to lay the foundation for future in-space production of human tissues.
• Pharmaceutical industry: The ISS National Lab has supported a variety of investigations from global pharmaceutical companies, including Merck & Co., AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, and others. These companies use the unique space environment to help advance drug discovery, therapeutic formulations, vaccine development, and drug-delivery technologies, accelerating the path to next-generation medicines.
• Startups and emerging companies: The ISS National Lab has also served as a business incubator, enabling more than 100 startups and emerging companies to conduct space-based research over the last 15 years. Startups leveraging the ISS National Lab have raised nearly $3 billion in funding after completion of their spaceflight projects. Many of these startups were awarded the Technology in Space Prize, funded by CASIS and Boeing in partnership with the MassChallenge startup accelerator program. CASIS also established its Orbital Edge Accelerator, and more than a dozen startups have been selected to receive seed funding from global investment partners and the ability to launch a spaceflight project through the ISS National Lab.
• Consumer brands: The ISS National Lab has partnered with a wide range of companies to enhance products for consumers on Earth, and nearly 60% of payloads launched through the ISS National Lab during CASIS management have represented private-sector entities. One of the ISS National Lab's first sponsored payloads was a Procter & Gamble (P&G) investigation focused on improving household products. Findings from the research informed the latest formulation of P&G's Febreze Fabric Spray and paved the way for subsequent collaborations, including Tide in Space. Other consumer-facing brands, including adidas,  Cobra Puma Golf, and Goodyear have also partnered with the ISS National Lab to explore how the unique space environment can drive innovation and product development.
• Commercial facilities: When CASIS assumed management of the ISS National Lab, there were two commercially owned and operated facilities on the space station. Now, the ISS National Lab supports 24 such facilities located both inside and outside of the space station, significantly expanding research capabilities while helping facility operators expand their businesses and customer reach.

For more information about the ISS National Lab and research in space that benefits life on Earth, visit www.ISSNationalLab.org.

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About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory^® allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space^® (CASIS^®) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

SOURCE International Space Station National Lab