Station Science Top News: Oct. 6, 2022

After launching stem cell studies to the International Space Station, the University of California San Diego is partnering with Sierra Space to expand its stem cell research program aboard the planned Orbital Reef commercial space station. This demonstrates how the station serves as a low-Earth orbit launch pad for companies and scientists to pursue innovations that can benefit life on Earth.

The University of California San Diego’s previous stem-cell-related research on the station includes Space Tango-Human Brain Organoids, launched on SpaceX CRS-21. The experiment used stem-cell-derived organoids to study how microgravity affects basic functions of brain cells, including survival, migration, and metabolism, and the formation of neural networks. Sierra Space reports that this new commercial space station collaboration will be the “first stem cell research institute in space.” The university will provide inputs on the creation of the bio-fabrication facilities aboard Orbital Reef and help guide the selection of research objectives. Sierra Space and Blue Origin are the principal partners behind Orbital Reef, which the companies state is expected to be operational by 2027.

Learn more in the Sierra Space press release here.

Brain organoids grown in the Muotri Laboratory at the University of California San Diego in La Jolla for one month and then sent to the International Space Station. Credits: Muotri Lab/UC San Diego

***

Fruit flies subjected to microgravity and others subjected to simulated Earth gravity aboard station both showed changes in gene expression and metabolic processes caused by cellular stress. However, flies exposed to artificial gravity experienced less significant changes. This suggests that artificial-gravity technology could serve as a countermeasure to mitigate risks to the central nervous system during deep space missions.

The microgravity group from this Multi-use Variable-g Platform Fly-01, or MVP Fly-01, study saw a postflight decrease in neurons that play a role in Parkinson's disease in humans. These observations were not as dramatic in the artificial gravity group. In addition, progressive neuronal loss is seen in both groups, but it was less pronounced in the artificial gravity group. This suggests that artificial gravity partially protects the central nervous system from the adverse effects of spaceflight.