ISS Business

What we do


ESA ISS Business
 
The International Space Station
 
You want to perform an R&D experiment or a technology demonstration on the International Space Station (ISS)? The European Space Agency provides access to the ISS and other low gravity platforms to commercial customers and supports them in implementing their R&D and technology demonstration.
 
The ISS offers sophisticated research facilities, a crew of trained astronauts, regular access by both manned and unmanned spacecraft and an intellectual property regime tailored to the needs of commercial customers.
 
 
International Space Station 20 August 2001
 
International Space Station 20 August 2001
 
 
Thanks to the ISS, private customers can finally carry out their own R&D in conditions of weightlessness, or can expose their innovations to the harsh conditions of outer space.

We, the European Space Agency's (ESA) Business Development Office stand ready to help you to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity. Our goal is to support you developing your research or application question into an experiment on the ISS. To realise this, we provide access to scientific expertise if requested, and offer a rich set of services and attractive conditions.
 
 
   
Please take a minute to discover some of the projects that earier clients are already pursuing on board the ISS. You may have a similar need. Or you may have thought of something totally new. If it can be done, we'll help you do it.

Applied research and development

The ISS offers laboratories tailored to carry out cutting-edge research and application in biology, physiology, physics, material sciences and much more. This includes:

  • Biotechnology and biomedical research
    e.g. tissue growth, protein crystallisation
  • Health
    e.g. research into osteoporosis, crew health monitoring devices
  • Process innovation
    e.g. combustion processes with possible applications in the energy and automotive industry
  • New materials
    e.g. metallic foams
Technology demonstration

Space is a unique environment for product testing. Lack of gravity, vacuum, exposure to radiations, large fluctuations in temperatures, and strict mass and safety constraints all encourage industries to continuously improve their technology - with direct benefits for customers on Earth.
 
 
  
Last update: 7 May 2009