The following page is a list of scientific research that is currently underway or has been previously studied on the International Space Station by the European Space Agency.
ESA-reported ISS research and science activity ESA's scientific programme for Life and Physical Sciences is defined by and originates from ELIPS: European Programme for Life and Physical Sciences
Life sciences
Biology Characterisation of the effects of microgravity on the mechanism of action of Vitamin D in Osteoblasts (VITAMIND)Characterisation of the effects of microgravity on the mechanism of action of Vitamin D in Osteoblasts (VITAMIN D) - ESA Embryonic development of amphibians in weightlessness (AQUARIUS)Embryonic development of amphibians in weightlessness (AQUARIUS) - ESA ROle of Apoptosis in Lymphocyte Depression (ROALD)ROle of Apoptosis in Lymphocyte Depression (ROALD) - ESA
Cardiovascular function A model for investigating mechanisms of heart disease and mechanisms of activation of sympathoadrenal activity in humans during spaceflight (CARD)A model for investigating mechanisms of heart disease and mechanisms of activation of sympathoadrenal activity in humans during spaceflight (CARD) - ESA
A description of the experiment and the performance status is given in ESA's Erasmus Experiment Archive (EEA) and in addition a condensed account of the experiment's aim and foundation has been provided in ESA's Human Spaceflight Science Newsletter no.1, 2010. The experiment needs 8-10 human test subjects for medical statistics reasons, for it to be completed. The experiment tests two hypotheses that are based on a more than two decades long research in understanding the reaction of the cardiovascular system to exposure to microgravity. The responses that can be observed in Space in the areas of adjustment of blood pressure, resistance in the circulation, tissue fluid filling and urine excretion, etc. do not fit completely with theories. Thus, the new theories for how the observable reactions could be explained. Blood pressure circadian rhythms in weightlessness (BMI).Blood pressure circadian rhythms in weightlessness (BMI) - ESA Blood pressure Measurement Instrument (BMI)Blood pressure Measurement Instrument (BMI) - ESA CARDIOCOG-2CARDIOCOG-2 - ESACARDIOCOG-2 - ESACARDIOCOG-2 - ESA Cardiovascular adaptation to weightlessness (RHYTHM)Cardiovascular adaptation to weightlessness (RHYTHM) - ESA Effects of microgravity on the peripheral subcutaneous veno-arteriolar reflex in humans. (XENON-1)Effects of microgravity on the peripheral subcutaneous veno-arteriolar reflex in humans. (XENON-1) - ESA Measurement of heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and blood flow to obtain heart rate variability, blood pressure variability and blood distribution. (SPACE RHYTHMS)Measurement of heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and blood flow to obtain heart rate variability, blood pressure variability and blood distribution. (SPACE RHYTHMS) - ESA One-day (24-hour) pattern of blood pressure and heart rate in weightlessness (CIRCA)One-day (24-hour) pattern of blood pressure and heart rate in weightlessness (CIRCA) - ESA Physiological parameters that predict orthostatic intolerance after spaceflight (AORTA)Physiological parameters that predict orthostatic intolerance after spaceflight (AORTA) - ESAPhysiological parameters that predict orthostatic intolerance after spaceflight (AORTA) - ESA Physiological Parameters That Predict Orthostatic Intolerance After Spaceflight (HEART)Physiological Parameters That Predict Orthostatic Intolerance After Spaceflight (HEART) - ESA Studies of airway inflammation during space flight (NOA-1)Studies of airway inflammation during space flight (NOA-1) - ESAStudies of airway inflammation during space flight (NOA-1) - ESA Studies of venous gas emboli during extravehicular activity procedures (NOA-2)Studies of venous gas emboli during extravehicular activity procedures (NOA-2) - ESA Study of the evolution of cardiovascular deconditioning phenomena under weightless conditions (CARDIOSCIENCE)Study of the evolution of cardiovascular deconditioning phenomena under weightless conditions (CARDIOSCIENCE) - ESA
Cell and molecular biology Bone cell mechanosensitivity in weightlessness (FLOW)Bone cell mechanosensitivity in weightlessness (FLOW) - ESA Chromosomal aberrations in blood lymphocytes of astronauts (CHROMOSOME)Chromosomal aberrations in blood lymphocytes of astronauts (CHROMOSOME) - ESA Chromosomal aberrations in blood lymphocytes of astronauts (CHROMOSOMES)Chromosomal aberrations in blood lymphocytes of astronauts (CHROMOSOMES) - ESA CHROMOSOME-2CHROMOSOME-2 - ESACHROMOSOME-2 - ESACHROMOSOME-2 - ESACHROMOSOME-2 - ESA Cosmic radiation and microgravity related oxidative stress (RAMIROS)Cosmic radiation and microgravity related oxidative stress (RAMIROS) - ESA Effects of microgravity on expression of calcium channels in myocyte - MYOCYTEEffects of microgravity on expression of calcium channels in myocyte - MYOCYTE - ESA Expression of microbial genes in space (GENE)Expression of microbial genes in space (GENE) - ESA Fischer Rat Thyroid Low serum 5% (FRTL5)Fischer Rat Thyroid Low serum 5% (FRTL5) - ESA Microbiological Experiment on Space Station About Gene Expression (MESSAGE)Microbiological Experiment on Space Station About Gene Expression (MESSAGE) - ESAMicrobiological Experiment on Space Station About Gene Expression (MESSAGE) - ESA Natural killer cell activity in microgravity - NKANatural killer cell activity in microgravity - NKANatural killer cell activity in microgravity - NKA - ESA Signalling through Rho GTPases in microgravity (RHO SIGNALLING)Signalling through Rho GTPases in microgravity (RHO SIGNALLING) - ESA Yeast In No Gravity - Part 1 (YING-A)Yeast In No Gravity - Part 1 (YING-A) - ESA Yeast In No Gravity - Part 2 (YING-B)Yeast In No Gravity - Part 2 (YING-B) - ESA
Developmental biology Effects of the gravity-altered environment on Drosophila motility, behaviour and ageing (AGEING)Effects of the gravity altered environment on Drosophila motility, behaviour and ageing (AGEING) - ESA First International C.elegans Experiment: Physiological and genomic study of a nematode worm in space (ICE-first)First International C.elegans Experiment: Physiological and genomic study of a nematode worm in space (ICE-first) - ESA The antibody V(D)J recombination machinery in normal and altered gravity - AMPHIBODYThe antibody V(D)J recombination machinery in normal and altered gravity - AMPHIBODY - ESA
Education A demonstration of Newton's Three Laws of Motion (VIDEO-2)A demonstration of Newton's Three Laws of Motion (VIDEO-2) - ESA Amateur Radio on ISS (ARISS)Amateur Radio on ISS (ARISS) - ESA A test of the basic principles of mechanics (THEBAS)A test of the basic principles of mechanics (THEBAS) - ESA Determination of the effect of gravity on the development of a colony of bacteria (WINOGRAD)Determination of the effect of gravity on the development of a colony of bacteria (WINOGRAD) - ESA DVD 4DVD 4 - ESA Electronic - Learning (E-Learning)Electronic - Learning (E-Learning) - ESA Erasmus Recording Binocular 2 (ERB-2)Erasmus Recording Binocular 2 (ERB-2) - ESA Erasmus Recording Binocular (ERB)Erasmus Recording Binocular (ERB) - ESA Neo-Cartilage Formation in Microgravity Environment (CHONDRO)Neo-Cartilage Formation in Microgravity Environment (CHONDRO) - ESA Seeds in Space (SEEDS)Seeds in Space (SEEDS) - ESA Study of output of bacterial fuel cells in weightlessness (BugNRG)Study of output of bacterial fuel cells in weightlessness (BugNRG) - ESA Study of the behaviour of a rigid body rotating around its centre of mass (APIS)Study of the behaviour of a rigid body rotating around its centre of mass (APIS) - ESA VIDEO-3 (VI3): Filmed demonstrations of the effects of weightlessness on the human body.VIDEO-3 (VI3): Filmed demonstrations of the effects of weightlessness on the human body. - ESA
Endocrinology and metabolism Cell-Cell Interaction of Monocytes and T-Lymphocytes in microgravity - MIACell-Cell Interaction of Monocytes and T-Lymphocytes in microgravity - MIA - ESA IMMUNOIMMUNO - ESA Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) - ESA Neuroendocrine and immune responses in humans during and after long-term stay at ISS (IMMUNO)Neuroendocrine and immune responses in humans during and after long term stay at ISS (IMMUNO) - ESANeuroendocrine and immune responses in humans during and after long term stay at ISS (IMMUNO) - ESA Role of weightlessness on actin metabolism in mammalian cells (ACTIN)Role of weightlessness on actin metabolism in mammalian cells (ACTIN) - ESA Sympathoadrenal activity in humans during spaceflight (SYMPATHO)Sympathoadrenal activity in humans during spaceflight (SYMPATHO-2) - ESASympathoadrenal activity in humans during spaceflight (SYMPATHO-2) - ESASympathoadrenal activity in humans during spaceflight (SYMPATHO-2) - ESASympathoadrenal activity in humans during spaceflight (SYMPATHO-2) - ESA
Exobiology Dosimetry for biological experiments in space (DOBIES)Dosimetry for biological experiments in space (DOBIES) - ESA Molecular adaptation strategies of micro-organisms to different space and planetary UV climate conditions (ADAPT)Molecular adaptation strategies of micro-organisms to different space and planetary UV climate conditions (ADAPT) - ESA EXPOSE - astrobiology experiments (EXPOSE-R and EXPOSE-E).Photo-and exobiology experiment (EXPOSE-R and EXPOSE-E) - ESA PRebiotic Organic ChEmistry on Space Station (PROCESS)PRebiotic Organic ChEmistry on Space Station (PROCESS) - ESA Resistance of lichens and lithic fungi at space conditions (LIFE)Resistance of lichens and lithic fungi at space conditions (LIFE) - ESA Resistance of spacecraft isolates to outer space for planetary protection purposes (PROTECT)Resistance of spacecraft isolates to outer space for planetary protection purposes (PROTECT) - ESA Testing the plant seed as a terrestrial model for panspermia vehicle and as a source for universal UV screens (SEEDS)Testing the plant seed as a terrestrial model for panspermia vehicle and as a source for universal UV screens (SEEDS) - ESA
Fluid balance and kidney function Renal stone risk during spaceflight: Assessment and countermeasure validation (RENAL STONE)Renal stone risk during spaceflight: Assessment and countermeasure validation (RENAL STONE) - ESA
Human factors Cardiac Adapted Sleep Parameters Electrocardiogram Recorder (CASPER)Cardiac Adapted Sleep Parameters Electrocardiogram Recorder (CASPER) - ESA Cultural determinants of performance and error management at the International Space Station (CULT)Cultural determinants of performance and error management at the International Space Station (CULT) - ESACultural determinants of performance and error management at the International Space Station (CULT) - ESA
Human physiology Ambiguous Tilt and Translation Motion Cues After Spaceflight (Zag)Ambiguous Tilt and Translation Motion Cues After Space Flight (Zag) - ESA Astronaut's Energy Requirements for Long-Term Spaceflight (ENERGY).Astronaut's Energy Requirements for Long-Term Space Flight (ENERGY) - ESA Bone Proteomics (BOP) – a study analyzing protein expression changes in bone tissue after exposure to microgravity.Bone Proteomics (BOP) - ESA Otolith Assessment During Postflight Re-adaptation (Otolith)Otolith Assessment During Postflight Re-adaptation (Otolith) - ESA Physiological analysis of skin in space (SKIN)Physiological analysis of skin in space (SKIN) - ESA SOdium LOading in Microgravity (SOLO)SOdium LOading in Microgravity (SOLO) - ESA The effect of gravitational context on EEG dynamics: A study of spatial cognition, novelty processing and sensorimotor integration (NEUROSPAT)The effect of gravitational context on EEG dynamics: A study of spatial cognition, novelty processing and sensorimotor integration (NEUROSPAT) - ESA