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ISS National Lab Missions Flown

The two stage Falcon 9 launch vehicle lifts off Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying the SpaceXs Dragon resupply spacecraft to the International Space Station. Liftoff was at 1:16 p.m. EST, Dec. 5, 2018. On its 16th commercial resupply services mission to the space station, Dragon will deliver several science investigations to the space station, including the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation lidar (GEDI). GEDI will provide high quality laser ranging observations of the Earths forests and topography required to advance the understanding of important carbon and water cycling processes, biodiversity and habitat.

Media Credit: Image courtesy of NASA/Tony Gray and Kenny Allen

SpaceX CRS-16

The International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory is enabling a new era of research in space aimed at improving life on Earth. The SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)-16 mission is slated for launch no earlier than December 4, 2018, carrying multiple ISS National Lab payloads.

The SpaceX CRS-16 mission includes a variety of payloads representing diverse science investigations, ranging from the life and physical sciences to Earth observation and remote sensing, as well as educational experiments intended to engage and excite the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Below provides information about the launch and will be continually updated.

Mission: SpaceX CRS-16

Launch date: Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at 1:16 p.m. EDT

Location: Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida

Launch Resources

  • Mission Overview

    SpaceX CRS-16 Mission Overview

    The ISS U.S. National Laboratory is enabling a new era of research in space aimed at improving life on Earth. The SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)-16 mission is slated for launch no earlier than December 4, 2018, carrying multiple ISS National Lab payloads.

    The Dragon capsule approaches the International Space Station to deliver the supplies on board.
  • Video

    New ISS National Lab Research Aims to Treat Blindness

    Startup company LambdaVision is developing a retinal implant that has the capacity to treat retinal degenerative blindness, which affects millions around the world. By sending research to the ISS U.S. National Laboratory, LambdaVision seeks to improve the manufacturing process associated with this implant.

    lambda screenshot
  • Video

    Student Researchers Study Aeroponic Farming in Space

    One of the winning teams from the 'Guardians of the Galaxy Space Station Challenge', presented by ISS National Lab and Marvel. will study aeroponic farming on our orbital laboratory. The investigation will launch to the space station via SpaceX CRS-16 mission.

    aeroponicfarming screenshot
  • Press Release

    More than 20 U.S. National Laboratory Payloads Part of SpaceX’s 16th Mission to Space Station

    SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will bring approximately 300 kilograms of research and hardware facilities to the orbiting laboratory under the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory flight allocation.

    The SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft are on the pad at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
  • Article

    Microbes That Stick Together Corrode Together

    A new study launching to the ISS National Lab on SpaceX CRS-16 will address fundamental questions about biofilms. A better understanding of biofilms could improve mitigation of microbe-caused corrosion, which could lead to cost savings and help avert disasters like oil spills.

    biofilm screenshot
  • Article

    Malting Barley in Microgravity

    One of the investigations on SpaceX CRS-16 is the third in a series of experiments from Budweiser focused on studying barley onboard the ISS National Lab. Barley, the fourth largest cereal grain grown in the world, is used in a variety of products—from animal feed to bread and, of course, beer.

    Budweisers investigation examining barley germination onboard the International Space Station.
  • Article

    SpaceX CRS-16 is Heading to the International Space Station

    Scheduled to arrive on Saturday, the Dragon spacecraft is carrying more than 5,600 pounds of research equipment, cargo, and supplies, including more than 20 ISS National Lab-sponsored experiments

    crs16 launch
  • Article

    Tissue Chips Take Flight

    Earlier this week, NIH Director Francis Collins shared his thoughts on human tissue chips heading to the ISS. Tissue chips, small chips containing human cells grown on an artificial scaffold to model the structure and function of human tissue, enable better disease modeling and higher-accuracy drug screening.

    astronaut tissue chip
  • Article

    New Student Investigations Arrive at the Space Station

    The student experiments cover a wide range of topics—from examining the ability of fungi to act as a radiation barrier to coffee’s effects on oral hygiene in space and studying genetically engineered bacteria that produce medically important proteins.

    The iLEAD team from Santa Clarita Valley International Charter High School and their project Drinking Coffee in Space: The Impact of Microgravity on Streptococcus mutans on Susceptibility to Coffee.
  • Article

    Bringing Oral Hygiene to Space

    DreamUp to Space is a fun and fantastic way for all the students to practice real science and discover their own sense of wonder.

    iLEAD Schools students Olivia (L) and Sophie (R), whose project was selected to launch to the International Space Station through iLEAD DreamUp to Space
  • Article

    Team Rocket Student Experiment In Orbit

    The ISS National Lab partnered with Marvel Entertainment for the challenge, in which students from across the U.S. submitted concepts for spaceflight experiments based on the physical characteristics of Guardians of the Galaxy characters Rocket and Groot.

    The Team Rocket experiment from the Guardians of the Galaxy Space Station Challenge onboard the International Space Station shortly after the hatch to SpaceXs Dragon spacecraft was opened.
  • Article

    Setting Sights on Vision

    Nicole Wagner is the president and CEO of LambdaVision, a startup company focused on developing an innovative protein-based retinal implant capable of restoring high-resolution vision and enhancing quality of life for patients with retinal degeneration.

    LambdaVisions tiny protein based retinal implant. The implant is the small purple dot, which is about the size of a paper hole punch.
  • Article

    Using Space to Help Restore Sight on Earth

    LambdaVision aims to use the microgravity environment of the ISS to improve the manufacturing process for the company’s protein-based retinal implant that is capable of restoring vision in patients with retinal degeneration.

    lambda vision
  • Article

    All Patched Up: Space-Based Research to Help Heal Wounds on Earth

    Tympanogen is using knowledge gained from the spaceflight experiment to continue development of their wound-healing patch for use on Earth and possibly on future long-duration spaceflight missions.

    NASA astronaut Serena Maria Aun Chancellor works on the Tympanogen wound healing investigation onboard the ISS.
  • Article

    ISS National Lab Projects Attract Additional Funding and Support

    Startup Orbit Fab received a $250,000 grant from the National Science Foundation program America's Seed Fund to test its satellite docking system.

    NASA astronaut Christina Koch monitors a satellite refueling experiment called Furphy on the ISS developed by startup company Orbit Fab.
  • Article

    LambdaVision Receives $5 Million Award From NASA for Additional ISS Research

    LambdaVision conducted an ISS National Lab-sponsored investigation to advance development of a retinal implant that restores vision to patients with retinal degeneration.

    LambdaVisions protein based artificial retina.
  • Article

    From a Dream to Virtual Reality: The ISS Experience

    TIME, in collaboration with Felix & Paul Studios, seeks to capture the unique experience of living in space for viewers back on Earth through a virtual reality series currently being filmed onboard the ISS.

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