At ISSRDC, learn how to harness the International Space Station (ISS) and the unique conditions of space to help solve your most pressing research and development (R&D) challenges.

ISSRDC 2025 Call for Abstracts Now Open

Submission period open now and closes April 18, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Attend the conference and
expand your R&D options

Meet the trailblazers who are advancing their R&D goals, fundamental science objectives, and STEM education efforts. Attend technical sessions, panel discussions, and lightning talks—all highlighting space station research.

Benefits of Attending ISSRDC

Attending ISSRDC will increase your knowledge of the space industry and provide opportunities to network with key stakeholders who can help to advance your goals.

As innovators, you address the challenges that humanity faces every day. From human health to finding new ways to work and learn, researchers are advancing science and technology to benefit life on Earth by conducting research on the International Space Station. Share your research experiences, hear from your peers, and discuss future opportunities.

You help researchers translate their ground-based research into space-based projects and provide the facilities they need to conduct their experiments on the International Space Station. Leverage this exclusive opportunity to share details about your services and offerings with prospective researchers, companies, and investors.

Market your products, services, and offerings to potential space industry customers and partners, and participate in discussions about the evolution of the industry.

Learn about R&D outcomes as well as supply and demand circumstances that may impact funding projections. Gain a financial perspective for the industry and talk with stakeholders about the future of space-based research and exploration as it relates to the International Space Station and future exploration efforts.

You are the future of the space workforce, and this conference will help you explore employment opportunities. Talk with companies, agencies, and organizations about internships, fellowships, and how to prepare for a career in the industry.

Learn about the exciting research taking place on the International Space Station that harnesses the research platform to educate and inspire students. Share your own station-related education efforts and explore opportunities to prepare the future space workforce for education and employment opportunities.

NASA and other government agencies help solve humanity’s biggest challenges. ISSRDC is an opportunity to discuss future space-research efforts, align priorities, and collaborate to achieve research success and a sustainable market in low Earth orbit.

Identify opportunities to share offerings and find partners, funders, and customers.

Learn about upcoming launches to the International Space Station and the science taking place in low Earth orbit. Find out who’s conducting groundbreaking research in microgravity that may impact your life on Earth and meet astronauts who will talk about their work on the International Space Station.

Learn how researchers applied for funding to conduct research on the International Space Station; worked with Implementation Partners to translate their science; conducted research in microgravity, and used their results to advance science and R&D.

You can’t afford to miss ISSRDC if you work in:

  • Businesses or organizations directly supporting space-based research and exploration
  • Industries facing research or design challenges in a traditional lab or testing setting
  • Physical or life sciences research
  • Astronaut health
  • Closed environment design
  • Advanced materials and manufacturing
  • Stem cell research
  • Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
  • Pharmaceutical design, development, or testing
  • Technology development and demonstration
  • Materials testing in harsh conditions
  • Earth observation
  • Space workforce development
  • STEM education
  • Philanthropy related to education or curing disease
  • Space industry-related communications or public affairs

Network with space community leaders

Explore the Marketplace Expo

Learn how leaders in academia, industry, and government agencies are advancing fundamental science research, technological innovation, in-space manufacturing, and workforce development to drive commercialization and a sustainable space economy.

M

Meet Industry Leaders

Network with professionals and industry leaders at various networking events throughout the conference.

I

International Space Station

The orbiting laboratory is where space-based research provides solutions to humanity’s biggest challenges and a path to the future of space exploration.

C

Collaborators & Partners

Research on station is the result of true partnership and collaboration. Hear from implementation partners, service providers, government agencies.

R

Researchers

Hear directly from researchers who have adapted their ground-based science to conduct experiments in low Earth orbit. Questions are welcome at ISSRDC!

O

Outcomes

Outcomes and results from space-based research are presented daily at ISSRDC, both on stage and in technical sessions.

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G

Gravity

At ISSRDC, you’ll learn how the near absence of gravity enables scientific discoveries and technological advancements.

R

Research & Exploration

Sessions at ISSRDC highlight unique research conducted on station that is not possible on Earth, featuring panels and in-depth presentations.

A

Astronauts

Astronauts present at the conference and share insights into their life and work on station.

V

Visionaries

Discover how the ISS is a platform for entrepreneurs, companies, and others to enhance and develop products or services and shorten their time to market.

I

Innovation

ISSRDC is THE PLACE to explore cutting-edge research and technology innovations in low Earth orbit.

T

Technology

At ISSRDC, technology and science take center stage, showcasing results and inspiring the future space industry workforce.

Y

Yearly

For 13 years, ISSRDC has served as a hub of science, innovation, and networking. Don’t miss the 14th annual event in Seattle from July 28-31, 2025.

What Attendees Are Saying about ISSRDC

Every year, I attend because I get access to customers and potential partners who may be thinking of translating their ground-based research to something that can be tested in microgravity. It’s a bonus that I learn about project outcomes during panel discussions with researchers who’ve had success in low Earth orbit. I learn about something cool taking place on station, and I get to talk to people who understand the work involved in space-based research.

This was my first ISSRDC conference, and I would gladly add it to my calendar annually.

ISSRDC is a wonderful opportunity to meet with the community of ISS National Lab users—it’s well run and organized, and very useful.

The daily sit-down lunch keynotes and receptions were great places to meet other industry professionals. I made several meaningful contacts with ISS National Lab staff and space industry representatives in the Marketplace Expo. Networking with industry leaders was a highlight for me, as it opened the door to a new business opportunity.

I liked the addition of the lightning talks—short sessions to convey some interesting information that doesn’t fit into other formats. Nice work! You do an incredible job making this useful, professional, and fun.

The conference [ISSRDC] had engaging technical sessions and subject-specific workshops that were impactful for my field—biomanufacturing. I left ISSRDC feeling inspired about the future of space-based research and ready to talk to my team about submitting a flight research project.

Attending the International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC) for the first time was an eye-opening experience. As a newcomer, I was amazed by the depth and breadth of the topics covered. The sessions were informative, and shared details about the latest advancements in space research and technology.

Thank you—each person I spoke with, regardless of their incredible achievements and level in their organization/company, treated me with such respect and kindness.  It was a beautiful experience, and I am so grateful to have been able to attend on behalf of my students.

Elevate your research

Microgravity. Extreme conditions. Unique vantage point.

Explore how low Earth orbit and the ISS could advance your R&D goals. Materials testing, pharmaceutical development, fundamental science, in-space manufacturing, and more—industries are seeing the research advancements and economic value from space-based R&D and sharing their experiences at ISSRDC.

ISS RDC Request Letter Template

Want to Attend ISSRDC? We’ve Got You Covered!

Use this customizable Word document to let your manager know about ISSRDC and why you shouldn’t miss out on this opportunity.

The ISSRDC 2025 theme is

Low Earth Orbit: A Space for Partnerships

14

Years
of Industry
Thought Leadership

850+

Space
Community
Professionals
Networking
Each Day

50+

Experts
Sharing Their
Valuable Insights

3

Days
of Innovative
Content