HOW THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION HELPS US ON EARTH

ULTRASOUND BY REMOTE GUIDANCE

Investigating ways to deliver expert medical attention to astronauts showed how small ultrasound machines and telemedicine procedures could be used in remote places on Earth.

MAKING BETTER WINE

Problems growing plants in orbit led to the invention of Advanced Astroculture to remove excess ethylene, giving longer shelf life of fruit and vegetables and better conditions in wine cellars.

MICROBIAL VACCINES

Salmonella can be even more virulent in microgravity than on Earth. This discovery led scientists to study genetic pathways for bacterial pathogens and the development of new microbial vaccines.

EXERCISE AND MEDICINE FOR OSTEOPOROSIS

Studies of astronauts’ loss of bone density led to breakthroughs in the value of exercise and vitamins, as well as a new drug called Prolia to treat osteoporosis.

ROBOTIC CANCER SURGERY

The ISS’ robotic arm is a powerful heavy lifter, yet its control mechanism inspired a delicate surgical robot that can perform biopsies and even remove tumours inside NMRI scanners.

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

Students have taken part in experiments including YouTube Space Lab, Student Spaceflight Experiments and Spheres Zero Robotics, motivating many to science careers.

LASER EYE SURGERY

Laser surgery to correct vision defects is a life-changer for many people, and relies on eye tracking technology first developed in an ISS experiment into balance and eye movement.

CHECKING OCEAN HEALTH

The quality of coastal waters was studied in detail by the Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO), which measured clarity, phytoplankton, light absorption and cyanobacteria.

TAKING PICTURES FOR DISASTER RELIEF

The ISS passes over 90 per cent of Earth’s populated areas every 24 hours, providing unprecedented opportunities to assist by producing detailed imagery.

CRYSTALLISED PROTEIN FOR BETTER DRUGS

Protein crystallography is an exciting area of pharmaceutical development, and one protein developed on the ISS may lead to drugs for muscular dystrophy.

CLEANER WATER FOR EVERYONE

Water is reused many times on the ISS. New ultrafiltration techniques have been developed, which also help people in remote locations and in disaster relief.

PORTABLE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT

Research into the capillary flow behaviour of fluids in microgravity led to a new portable medical testing device, which could improve diagnosis of diseases in remote areas.

OPENING SPACE TO PRIVATE ENTERPRISE

More than half of the commercial research payloads are selffinancing.