The NASA has sent aboard the SpaceX CRS-35 mission, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex, several scientific experiments focused on human and plant health, as well as antibiotic resistance in orbit.
Among these investigations is the deployment of small human brain models cultivated in the laboratory, which will remain in orbit for five weeks. These models will allow comparison of the effects of a short spaceflight on the brain at the cellular level with identical models kept on Earth. This study aims to deepen understanding of the impacts of space stress on the brain and to prepare methods to protect astronauts’ brain health during future lunar or deep space missions.
Another experiment concerns space-grown crops: it analyzes whether plant diseases develop more rapidly or severely in microgravity. By comparing molecular and structural changes between infected plants grown on Earth and aboard the International Space Station, researchers hope to guide the selection of disease-resistant crops, which is crucial for future space agriculture.
Finally, the mission carries a compact microplate reader device, tested for the first time this year on the station, which enables rapid detection of biomarkers such as antibodies and proteins. This technology could accelerate diagnosis of infections and health issues in astronauts, avoiding delays associated with returning samples to Earth, and enhance scientific capabilities in remote exploration environments.
