International Space Station Facilities: Research in Space 2017 and Beyond

By the International Space Station Program Science Office The International Space Station (ISS) is uniquely capable of unraveling the mysteries of our universe—from the evolution of our planet and life on Earth to technology advancements and understanding the effects of spaceflight on the human body. This outpost also serves to facilitate human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit to other destinations in our solar system through continued habitation and experience. The purpose of this reference document is to detail the research facilities located on the ISS and to provide a short description of each facility, highlighting its capabilities. These facilities enable research by providing the infrastructure and equipment to conduct many different­ experiments. By leveraging these existing facilities, researchers can develop scientific protocols and conduct research more efficiently and with less expense. The facilities described in this book can be available for utilization and should be considered a starting point for developing ISS research proposals.