NASA's ninth rotational SpaceX crew mission (Crew-9) astronauts splashed down off the coast of Florida, ending their months-long science expedition onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Over the course of the mission, the crew supported a variety of investigations sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory, including research to improve treatments for neurodegenerative conditions, studies to manufacture more effective therapeutics in space, and student-led experiments to prepare the next generation of explorers. Returning crew members include NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, and Butch Wilmore, who are part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

During their expedition, the Crew-9 astronauts played a vital role in supporting the mission of the ISS National Lab by conducting dozens of investigations that aim to bring value to humanity and enable a robust economy in low Earth orbit. Below are a few ISS National Lab-sponsored projects the astronauts worked on during their mission:

• Bristol Myers Squibb, in collaboration with ISS National Lab Commercial Service Provider Redwire Space, built on its legacy of protein crystallization on the space station with a project seeking to crystallize model small molecule compounds. Crystals grown in microgravity are often larger and more well-ordered than those grown on the ground and could have improved morphology (geometric shape). The project aims to support the manufacturing of more effective therapeutics in space.
• Sachi Bio, working with ISS National Lab Commercial Service Provider Space Tango, conducted an investigation to advance the development of new therapeutics for neurodegenerative conditions. The project aimed to use brain organoids in microgravity to test the effects of a novel drug on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and dementia.

• The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) funded several projects supported by the crew. For example, a project from the University of California, Santa Barbara, working with ISS National Lab Commercial Service Provider BioServe Space Technologies, leveraged microgravity to understand how mucus that lines the human airway affects medication delivery to the lungs. Results from this project could improve the modeling of drug delivery for treatments such as surfactant replacement therapy (a treatment for infants with respiratory distress syndrome).
• The crew also worked on several student-led experiments. Genes in Space launched its 11th student investigation, an RNA experiment from Isabel Jiang, now a freshman at Yale University. The project investigated a novel way to detect genetic elements that can activate under spaceflight conditions and could shed light on genetic risks for astronauts. Additionally, the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) engaged students from 38 communities in the scientific process of designing microgravity experiments using Mixstix, flexible tubes that keep substances separate until they are ready to be mixed in space. The student projects explored research areas like infectious bacteria growth, germination of lettuce seeds, eco-friendly worms as pest control, and hydrating plants in space with Liquid I.V., a commercial powdered drink mix.

The ISS National Lab provides access and opportunity for researchers to leverage the unique space environment for the benefit of humanity and to enable commerce in space.

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