For over 25 years, people have continuously lived and worked aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies that help prepare for human exploration of the Moon and Mars. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 crew members are set to join this long legacy, conducting science aboard the orbiting laboratory to advance research for exploration and deliver benefits for all humanity. 

During its mission, Crew-13 will investigate practical questions about how to keep crews healthier, grow food reliably in space, and validate the technologies need for deep‑space missions.

The crew will use the microgravity environment of the space station to produce human stem cell-derived tissues, which can be used to support personalized medicine, disease modeling, and future pharmaceutical screening for conditions like heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. Crew members also study individual factors linked to blood flow abnormalities in space and testing a new inflight diagnostic device to monitor astronaut health. They also will explore crop production for future long duration missions by installing a new, mostly autonomous plant growth facility and growing crops in plant pillows at a location of their choice throughout the space station.

The crew’s science work complements a busy operations tempo aboard the orbiting laboratory that includes station maintenance and planned spacewalks.

For more information about science being conducted on the International Space Station, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/space-station-research-and-technology/.