NASA details 750 space station investigations in 2025 annual report
The US space agency’s latest summary of research conducted in microgravity highlights advances in medical technology, materials science, and astronaut health ahead of future lunar and Martian missions.
NASA released the 2025 Annual Highlights of Results in May 2026, providing a comprehensive summary of more than 750 investigations conducted aboard the International Space Station during the previous year. The report, compiled by the International Space Station Research Communications Team, outlines how research from partners including Roscosmos, JAXA, and the European Space Agency is advancing understanding of life in space and supporting exploration goals for the Moon and Mars.
One area of focus was the viability of remote medical procedures in microgravity. Researchers tested a miniature robotic system using rubber bands to simulate surgical tasks, observing how communication delays from Earth affected precision. While delays increased the duration of operations, they had minimal impact on accuracy. The findings suggest that precise robotic surgery could be performed at future lunar bases or on Mars, as well as in remote regions on Earth.
In the field of regenerative medicine, a Roscosmos investigation utilised the Magnetic 3D Bioprinter to form complex tissue structures. By using magnetic levitation to position calcium crystals, scientists created synthetic bone grafts with superior structural organisation. These samples demonstrated a high capacity for bone tissue regeneration, offering a potential solution for astronauts who experience bone loss and increased fracture risk during long-duration missions.
Materials science also yielded significant results through the Materials International Space Station Experiment-13-NASA. Polymers and spacesuit components were exposed to the space environment for six months to test durability. Polymers infused with fungal melanin showed the greatest resistance to radiation damage, highlighting biologically derived materials as a lightweight and sustainable option for shielding against radiation in deep space and on Earth.
Power systems for future exploration were assessed through a JAXA investigation into all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. A battery pack was exposed to space conditions, including extreme temperature swings and vacuum, for 434 days. The system exhibited stable electrical behaviour, no signs of degradation, and only a 2% loss in capacity, indicating these batteries could provide safer and more reliable power for missions beyond Earth.
Human performance was examined in NASA’s Manual Control investigation, which monitored five experienced astronauts before and after their space station missions. Simulated aircraft landings revealed degraded performance upon return to Earth, including higher touchdown speeds and navigational errors. However, most pilots returned to baseline during a second attempt on the same day, suggesting that long-term microgravity exposure temporarily diminishes critical piloting skills but does not cause permanent impairment.
Atmospheric research conducted by the European Space Agency utilised the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor to study electrical phenomena above severe thunderstorms. The study confirmed that powerful bursts of electricity can trigger elves, and identified a correlation between the brightness of blue flashes and electrical current. These insights improve models of energy transfer between the upper atmosphere and space, which is critical for satellite operations and communication systems.
The International Space Station has now supported over 4,000 experiments from more than 110 nations, resulting in more than 5,000 scientific publications. The 2025 findings continue to underscore the orbital laboratory’s role in developing technologies that benefit both space exploration and terrestrial applications.
