NASA's International Space Station (ISS) has long served as a vital testing ground for human space exploration, laying the groundwork for ambitious missions like Artemis II. The mission's life support systems, which will carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby, were developed in part through research conducted on the ISS.
The station has enabled scientists to conduct crucial experiments that can't be replicated on Earth. For example, researchers have used the space station to study the effects of deep space stressors on human health using organ-chip devices containing cells from astronauts' own bodies. This research could lead to improved prevention and personalized medical treatments for people on both Earth and in space.
NASA is also relying on the ISS's expertise in crew operations, having refined its methods through Crew Earth Observations. These techniques will be adapted for use during Artemis II's Crew Lunar Observations, enabling the crew to analyze and photograph geologic features on the far side of the Moon with greater precision than ever before.
The station has also facilitated numerous technology demonstrations and studies in low Earth orbit, including CubeSats – small satellites that test new technologies. NASA is now partnering with international agencies to deploy CubeSats aboard Artemis II for further research.
As the Artemis mission prepares to venture beyond Earth's orbit, the ISS will continue to play a vital role as a testing ground for critical technologies and operations. By learning from its predecessors, NASA can ensure that future missions – including those aimed at the Moon and Mars – are safer, more efficient, and better equipped to support human exploration.
The Artemis mission is set to make history with the first lunar flyby in over 50 years. As it takes a giant leap forward, we celebrate the space station and its role in making that progress possible.
The station has enabled scientists to conduct crucial experiments that can't be replicated on Earth. For example, researchers have used the space station to study the effects of deep space stressors on human health using organ-chip devices containing cells from astronauts' own bodies. This research could lead to improved prevention and personalized medical treatments for people on both Earth and in space.
NASA is also relying on the ISS's expertise in crew operations, having refined its methods through Crew Earth Observations. These techniques will be adapted for use during Artemis II's Crew Lunar Observations, enabling the crew to analyze and photograph geologic features on the far side of the Moon with greater precision than ever before.
The station has also facilitated numerous technology demonstrations and studies in low Earth orbit, including CubeSats – small satellites that test new technologies. NASA is now partnering with international agencies to deploy CubeSats aboard Artemis II for further research.
As the Artemis mission prepares to venture beyond Earth's orbit, the ISS will continue to play a vital role as a testing ground for critical technologies and operations. By learning from its predecessors, NASA can ensure that future missions – including those aimed at the Moon and Mars – are safer, more efficient, and better equipped to support human exploration.
The Artemis mission is set to make history with the first lunar flyby in over 50 years. As it takes a giant leap forward, we celebrate the space station and its role in making that progress possible.