Page 38 - International Space Station Benefits for Humanity, 3rd edition.

The ISS represents an unparalleled capability in a variety of commercial suppliers. NASA is also initiating
human spaceflight, which is increasing knowledge of the Commercial LEO Development program to further
engineering and physical sciences, biology, the Earth the development of private on-orbit capabilities beyond
and the universe. This knowledge is benefiting life what is available today through the ISS.
here on Earth and enhancing the competitiveness NASA intends to continue to expand these types of
of U.S. private industry. The research and technology commercial interactions, utilizing more commercial
demonstrations onboard the ISS are also providing acquisition strategies, and enabling greater commercial
the foundation for extending human presence beyond use of the ISS by offering its unique capabilities
LEO, into deep space. while providing Earth-similar laboratory facilities.
The international partnership created through the Recently, NASA has provided state-of-the-art, real-
ISS Program and its accomplishments are a testament time capabilities such as quantitative Polymerase
to the aerospace expertise of all nations involved. Chain Reaction (qPCR), implemented standard
It is an example of how countries can work together laboratory processing techniques, and has enabled
to overcome complex challenges and achieve the crew to operate as research partners through real-
collaborative goals. Through the efforts of five space time space-to-ground discussions with researchers.
agencies that represent the 15 ISS Intergovernmental Additional hardware and data capabilities are currently
Agreement signatory nations, more than 100 countries being proposed, including expanded capabilities for
and areas have utilized, or are currently utilizing, additive manufacturing, biofabrication, cell-culture,
the ISS. multi-material 3-D printing, metal casting, computer-
Looking forward, our vision for LEO is a sustained controlled milling and tissue engineering.
commercial space marketplace where NASA is one As we prepare for human exploration missions into
of many customers. The development of a healthy deep space, it is important to reflect on the critical
commercial supplier base for LEO activities is critical value of the proven partnership that has made the
to achieving that vision. Today, the ISS is already ISS possible, and to consider how to build on these
enabling commercial cargo and crew transportation relationships as humanity proceeds into cislunar space.
that industry is working to make more cost-effective. It is necessary to maximize the value and impact of the
More than a dozen commercial research facilities are ISS today to allow users to explore new microgravity
in active operation onboard the ISS. Through initiatives applications, test new markets, and communicate
such as the REMIS contract, NASA is transitioning from those success stories to stimulate broader interest
historically NASA-provided services for tasks such as in LEO from nontraditional space users.
payload integration to purchasing those services from

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