The Latest Breaking News from the International Space Station

Europe weighs the cost of sending its own astronauts into space

French President Emmanuel Macron wants Europe to develop its own way of sending astronauts into space within a decade. Europe already builds rockets and satellites and sends astronauts to the International Space Station – but it still relies on American spacecraft to get them there. As the global space sector…

Radio France Internationale · Sep 19

Mushrooms sent to space return to Earth & end up in pasta: Australian researchers send lion’s mane, turkey’s tail and cordyceps to the ISS, then watch what happens when they return

Mushrooms sent to space return to Earth & end up in pasta: Australian scientists sent fungal mycelium to the International Space Station as part of an experiment to study how edible fungi respond to space conditions. After the samples returned to Earth, researchers successfully cultivated lion's mane mushrooms and later…

The Economic Times · Sep 18

NASA launched an empty spacecraft away from the ISS and set materials inside on fire; scientists used the experiment to study how flames spread in space

NASA conducted experiments to study fire behavior in microgravity. Uncrewed Cygnus spacecraft were used after departing the International Space Station. Combustible materials were ignited inside these spacecraft for research purposes. These investigations collected data on flame growth and spread in space.

The Economic Times · Sep 17

In 2025, DLR tested continuous spirulina growth on the ISS for future closed-loop life support; Limnospira indica produced oxygen and edible biomass in microgravity

In a groundbreaking experiment, scientists have successfully cultivated spirulina aboard the International Space Station, paving the way for future Mars exploration. This remarkable blue-green algae can generate oxygen and produce biomass, allowing astronauts to grow food and breathable air independently of Earth. With its high nutritional value and small ecological…

The Economic Times · Sep 15

Could astronauts get cataract surgery on Mars? Scientists test eye implants in space

The research team sent 135 unpackaged artificial lenses to the International Space Station, where they spent around six months exposed to conditions in low-Earth orbit before returning to Earth for analysis.

Euronews · Sep 14

In 2019, Nickelodeon sent green slime to the ISS for eight demonstrations; the tests offered insights into liquid containment and hydroponic plant watering research

Astronauts on the International Space Station engaged in a fascinating experiment with Nickelodeon's iconic green slime. This unexpected project not only tapped into childhood nostalgia but also served as a crucial physics study, analyzing how the slime reacts in microgravity. The results promise to enhance our understanding of fluid dynamics…

The Economic Times · Sep 12

In 2004, ESA grew rocket seeds on the ISS with André Kuipers; after four days, dark-grown seedlings were taller and yellow, while lit ones stayed smaller and green

A 2004 space project involving astronaut Andre Kuipers and schoolchildren explored plant growth factors. Thousands of students participated, comparing classroom results with those from the International Space Station. Plants in darkness grew tall and yellow, while those in light were greener and shorter. This experiment demonstrated light and gravity's importance…

The Economic Times · Sep 11

How studying astronauts could help tackle ageing on Earth

Astronauts who undergo long-duration spaceflight aboard the International Space Station often return with health problems that resemble some age-related conditions in people on Earth.

The Conversation · Sep 8

Two golden silk orb weavers lived on the ISS for two months; most space-built webs became nearly symmetric, but under light the spiders used brightness as a new sense of up

A fascinating study involving spiders in the International Space Station concluded that in microgravity, these creatures built webs that exhibited greater symmetry. The spiders adapted to the absence of gravity by relying on overhead light to construct their webs. When lights were on, the webs became less balanced compared to…

The Economic Times · Sep 6

In 2015, Japan exposed bacteria outside the ISS for 3 years; some clumps survived, while thicker ones were estimated to last longer

Japanese researchers launched the resilient bacteria Deinococcus into orbit aboard the International Space Station. Remarkably, these microbes thrived for three years amid extreme environmental challenges. They formed protective clusters that safeguarded their inner cells against harmful radiation. This finding bolsters the hypothesis that life can migrate between planets, impacting future…

The Economic Times · Sep 5