NSF Funds ISS National Lab-Sponsored Projects to Advance Applications in Electronics Cooling and Drug Delivery

More than a decade of partnership has funded nearly 100 investigations,
driving scientific discoveries that benefit life on Earth

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the selection of two new research projects that will leverage the unique microgravity environment of the orbiting laboratory to advance understanding of fluid transport phenomena. The investigations will build on more than 10 years of collaboration between the ISS National Lab and NSF to support fundamental science that can deliver tangible benefits for life on Earth.

Since the partnership began, NSF has funded nearly 100 projects seeking to leverage the ISS National Lab in research areas spanning biotechnology, fluid dynamics, combustion related to safety and wildfires, and other transport phenomena. These projects have advanced scientific knowledge and led to more than 350 peer-reviewed publications.

The two newly selected projects will investigate fundamental processes that influence advanced manufacturing, energy systems, healthcare technologies, and other critical fields.

Patricia Weisensee, Washington University in St. Louis
Project Title: ISS: Beyond Buoyancy: The Role of Non-Gravitational Transport Phenomena on the Melting Dynamics of Small Particles

In 3D printing with metals, tiny powder particles must fully melt and mix together to create strong, uniform materials with consistent properties. If the particles do not fully melt and mix, defects can form that negatively affect the material's performance. To improve metal 3D printing, researchers need to better understand how these particles melt and spread through liquids. On Earth, gravity creates fluid flows that can make it difficult to separate and observe the effects of other forces like surface tension. By conducting studies in the microgravity environment of the ISS, the research team can isolate these non-gravitational effects and develop more accurate models of how the particles melt and mix. Insights gained from this research could help improve advanced manufacturing techniques and applications that involve dissolving particles in liquids, such as drug delivery and microplastic recycling.

Chen Li, University of South Carolina
Project Title: ISS: An Experimental Study of Slip Ratio in Microgravity Two-Phase Flows

Many systems used for applications such as electronics cooling, refrigeration, and spacecraft thermal control rely on a process called flow boiling to remove heat. In this process, a liquid flows through channels in a system. As the liquid absorbs heat, some of it boils and turns into gas. One challenge is that the liquid and gas do not always move at the same speed, and gas bubbles often travel faster than the liquid. This difference, known as the slip ratio, affects how efficiently heat is removed. By studying flow boiling on the ISS, the research team can observe how liquids and gas bubbles behave without the strong influence of gravity and develop more accurate models. Results from this project could help engineers design more efficient heat-transfer and cooling systems for applications both in space and on Earth.

Together, these investigations demonstrate how space-based research can advance fundamental science while generating knowledge that supports technological innovation.

"Through the partnership between NSF and the ISS National Lab, researchers and students across the U.S. can explore foundational research questions that will lead to new technologies and other benefits for people on Earth," said William Olbricht, Deputy Head of the NSF Engineering Directorate. "By providing access to this unique experimental facility, we help the nation maintain leadership in science and engineering."

"Fundamental science serves as the foundation for future innovation," said ISS National Lab Chief Scientist Michael Roberts. "Our long-standing partnership with NSF continues to provide researchers with access to the unique conditions available in low Earth orbit, enabling discoveries that are difficult or impossible to achieve on Earth and helping unlock new scientific insights with broad societal impact."

Learn more about ISS National Lab-sponsored research and its real-world impacts in Upward, the official magazine of the ISS National Lab.

Download a high-resolution image for this release: Selected Projects

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