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A Year of Space-Based Innovation: ISS National Lab Sponsored More Than 100 Payloads in 2024, Advancing R&D in Low Earth Orbit

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The ISS National Lab supported 110 payloads that launched to the orbiting outpost over seven missions this year, enabling discoveries for terrestrial benefit

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In a robust year for space-based research, the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory supported the launch of 110 payloads across seven missions, facilitating science and technology research and development (R&D) that pushes the limits of innovation. Projects sponsored by the ISS National Lab this year enabled advancements in biotechnology, fundamental science, advanced materials, in-space manufacturing, and other areas. Companies, academic institutions, and government agencies continue to leverage the unique space environment to conduct R&D that brings value to humanity, validates new technologies and capabilities in space, and drives business models in low Earth orbit.

ISS National Lab-sponsored payloads launched to the space station on four NASA-funded Commercial Resupply Services missions, two astronaut crew missions through NASA, and one private astronaut mission from Axiom Space.

Below are a few highlights from the year in space:

Several projects that launched in 2024 focused on in-space manufacturing, an area of strategic importance for the ISS National Lab and NASA.Building on the successful 3D printing of a human meniscus on the ISS, Redwire Corporation’s BioFabrication Facility (BFF) printed test patches of cardiac tissues that could one day be used for drug testing and tissue repair for patients on Earth.Bristol Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly and Company utilized a manufacturing platform Redwire developed called the Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory (PIL) Bio-crystal Optimization eXperiment (BOX) to crystallize small organic molecules in microgravity with promising results. Essentially a “lab-in-a-box,” the PIL-BOX facility enables pharmaceutical companies and researchers to grow small-batch crystals for protein-based pharmaceuticals that may lead to more effective therapeutics for patients on Earth.Flawless Photonics launched technology for manufacturing high-value ZBLAN optical fiber in microgravity. ZBLAN can perform up to 100 times better than the silica fibers commonly used to connect our digital world today. The company produced more than seven miles (11.9 km) of optical fiber on station that is now being evaluated on Earth.Researchers from LambdaVision continued to leverage the ISS National Lab in their quest to manufacture an artificial retina to restore significant vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic disorder that causes vision loss. LambdaVision sent its ninth investigation to the space station earlier this year. The company is one of the growing number of organizations launching multiple investigations that build on previous space-based results.Several projects that launched this year validated valuable new technologies.The ArgUS platform, developed by Airbus U.S. Space and Defense, Inc., launched to the space station and supported its first projects in the Bartolomeo external hosting platform. ArgUS expands access to the space station’s unprecedented vantage point and extreme environment for materials and remote sensing projects, enabling multiple missions related to Earth observation, robotics, materials science, and astrophysics.NASA’s Astrobees, three free-flying robots on the space station designed to test technology and assist astronauts with routine duties, had a busy year. For example, Kall Morris used the Astrobees to simulate an active debris removal mission using its REACCH capture system, while Boeing and CSIRO (an Australian government agency responsible for scientific research) tested a novel 3D mapping technology to produce detailed maps of remote environments.The Malta College of Arts, Sciences, and Technology tested its ASTROBEAT cold welding technology in an investigation designed to simulate the repair of a spacecraft hull damaged from a hypervelocity impact in space. The project seeks to establish cold welding as a new tool for in-space repair, significantly boosting the durability of spacecraft and the safety of crewed missions while addressing the growing concern of space debris.Axiom Space launched its third private astronaut mission (Ax-3) in 2024, demonstrating the expansion of R&D on station with new participants in the growing low Earth orbit economy. The mission featured a variety of projects sponsored by the ISS National Lab.The Sanford Stem Cell Institute at the University of California, San Diego continued to build on stem cell research conducted on previous Axiom Space missions by studying tumor organoids in microgravity. The team seeks to identify early cancer warning signs for better diagnosis and treatment of the disease.An investigation from the National Stem Cell Foundation evaluated 3D brain models derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of patients with Parkinson’s disease and primary progressive multiple sclerosis. The project studied the mechanisms behind these and other neurodegenerative diseases, and results may help lead to new therapeutics for patients on Earth.The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has a longstanding partnership with the ISS National Lab to advance fundamental research on station that could lead to valuable future applications. In 2024, NSF funded 12 investigations that flew to the orbiting laboratory, ranging from tissue engineering to transport phenomena and fluid dynamics.A project from Florida International University studied the behavior of tiny, engineered particles dispersed in a liquid to form an active colloid. Results could inform a variety of applications, from targeted drug delivery to disease screening, water desalination, and photothermal therapies to treat cancer and other diseases.An investigation from the University of Connecticut leveraged microgravity conditions on the space station to test an innovative DNA-inspired Janus base nanomaterial that may help repair cartilage. Results from this investigation could lead to improved treatments for patients with degenerative joint diseases.A team from the University of Notre Dame launched the third in a series of experiments to understand bubble formation in microgravity to develop extremely sensitive biosensors for detecting trace substances in liquids. Results from this research could lead to new sensor technology for detecting early cancer markers in blood.The ISS National Lab continued its mission to prepare the scientists and engineers of the future by supporting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational programs and workforce development with a number of projects that launched to the space station in 2024.Genes in Space launched its 11th student investigation, a gene editing experiment from Isabel Jiang, now a freshman at Yale University. The project investigated the effects of radiation and the space environment on gene editing mechanisms. Results could shed light on genetic risks for certain diseases during spaceflight.The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program sent its 18th mission to the orbiting laboratory, engaging students from 38 communities in the scientific process to spark an interest in STEM career fields.

2024 proved to be an exciting year of launches and research on the space station. The ISS National Lab and NASA continue to work in tandem to launch payloads that benefit humanity and bring value to our nation. To learn more about research and technology development projects sponsored by the ISS National Lab, including how to propose concepts for future space-based research, visit our website.

Download a high-resolution image for this release: The International Space Station

About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory® allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS®) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS® accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page.

Media Contact:            

Patrick O’Neill 

904-806-0035 

PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org

International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory
Managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS)

1005 Viera Blvd., Suite 101, Rockledge, FL 32955 • 321.253.5101 • www.ISSNationalLab.org

 

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Atlas Free Launches Wayplace to Connect Human Trafficking Survivors With Services

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October 6, 2026

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New online tool empowers individuals to navigate their journey toward freedom, stability, and long-term healing with confidence

SEATTLE, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Atlas Free, an anti-sex trafficking nonprofit and field catalyst working to dismantle the business of exploitation, has launched a new resource to help human trafficking survivors find services to support their healing. A real-time database of services across the United States, Wayplace lets survivors prioritize what matters most to them, from long-term residential care and case management to specialized services such as trauma-informed equine therapy. Survivors can then choose their preferred program and get connected to services, all through the Wayplace platform. Wayplace currently has 100 organizations that offer 110 unique services. As the platform continues to grow, Atlas Free will add new organizations and services, providing survivors with a broad range of options to meet their unique needs.

In the past, survivors faced many barriers that made available services difficult to find or access. Wayplace connects survivors directly to the services they need and puts the choice in their hands. Built with survivor safety and privacy at its core, Wayplace operates on the web, with nothing to download or install, and has built-in security features to safeguard users.

“Atlas Free incorporated the insight of survivor leaders with extensive experience in the field. I commend the organization for developing a survivor-centered, user-friendly platform that empowers survivors by honoring their choice and voice.” –Service provider of an organization offering services on Wayplace

To learn more, visit atlasfree.org/wayplace.

If you are a survivor of human trafficking, survivor advocate, or organization offering supportive services, please visit Wayplace directly at wayplace.org.

About Atlas Free
Atlas Free’s mission is to accelerate and resource the fight against sex trafficking and exploitation. The organization identifies and invests in impactful programs, leaders, and organizations fighting human trafficking worldwide, empowering a global movement to bring freedom everywhere. Learn more at Atlas Free and join the global movement to end sex trafficking at atlasfree.org.

Media Contact
Lindsey Bretz
Marketing Director
LindseyB@atlasfree.org

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SOURCE Atlas Free

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Caladan Receives In-Principle Approval from VARA

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October 6, 2026

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Caladan’s Dubai entity has received in-principle approval for Broker-Dealer Services to institutional clients under Dubai‘s virtual asset framework.

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Caladan, a digital asset market maker in Asia, today announced that its Dubai entity, CLDN Broker Dealer FZE, received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) for Broker-Dealer Services on September 15, 2026.

The Caladan group conducts principal trading and provides aggregated liquidity to hundreds of digital assets across 40+ exchanges and dozens of bilateral counterparties. Caladan aggregates these fragmented markets for digital assets into a single source of tailored liquidity, made available via the Caladan API with sub-10ms latency and FIX 4.4 and 5.0SP2 support.

“Dubai has one of the clearest regulatory frameworks for virtual assets in the world,” said Julia Zhou, President and Co-Founder of Caladan. “Our team has worked closely with VARA on governance, risk management, and compliance to reach this stage.”

The approval is part of Caladan’s ongoing strategy to build regulated operations in the financial centers where its clients trade.

“We are seeing growing global demand from institutional clients for the aggregated liquidity we offer,” Zhou continued. “These clients need to work with a regulated counterparty to commit capital, and this approval moves us closer to offering that in Dubai. We thank VARA for their engagement.”

CLDN Broker Dealer FZE has received In-Principle Approval from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) for Broker-Dealer Services (reference IPA/26/09/004). In-Principle Approval is not a license. CLDN Broker Dealer FZE will not provide Broker-Dealer Services in or from the Emirate of Dubai until VARA issues a full license. If licensed, CLDN Broker Dealer FZE will serve institutional clients only and will not serve retail clients. A VARA approval or license is not an endorsement of CLDN Broker Dealer FZE or of any virtual asset.

About Caladan

Caladan is a digital asset market maker in Asia. The firm provides aggregated liquidity across 40+ exchanges and hundreds of tokens, with $170B in annual trading volume. Caladan serves token issuers, exchanges, and institutional clients through on-exchange market making, liquidity provisioning via the Caladan API, and options OTC. The market-making and liquidity services described in this release are provided by Caladan group entities outside Singapore and are not provided by CLDN SG Pte. Ltd.

www.caladan.xyz

Contact

caladan@forefrontcomms.com
Forefront Communications

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SOURCE Caladan

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Solana Foundation Launches Solana DvP, an Atomic Settlement Program Built for Financial Institutions

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October 6, 2026

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Onchain open-source delivery-versus-payment infrastructure, tailored for the world’s leading financial institutions

NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Solana Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the decentralization, growth, and security of Solana, today announced Solana DvP, an open-source escrow program that offers financial institutions an open-sourced API for for delivery-versus-payment settlement on Solana.

Released under the MIT license, it aims to bring the settlement certainty that banks and other financial institutions require to public blockchain infrastructure for the first time as a reusable standard that is atomically settled, provides isolated escrow, and enforces deadlines.

J.P. Morgan provided Solana Foundation with valuable input on institutional settlement practices and requirements. The result combines J.P. Morgan’s decades of securities settlement expertise with Solana‘s performance as the leading venue for tokenized real-world assets. Until now, institutional trades settling onchain have typically relied on bespoke smart contracts. Solana DvP replaces that with one standard rail.

“Atomic settlement removes counterparty risk that is inherent in traditional finance. Solana DvP program provides institutions with one open standard across the Solana ecosystem, on public infrastructure, with finality in seconds instead of days.” – Catherine Gu, Head of Product, Digital Assets, Solana Foundation.

“A shared, open standard for atomic delivery-versus-payment is exactly the kind of foundational infrastructure institutional market participants require to operate at scale without introducing settlement risk and counterparty exposure. We were pleased to contribute our settlement expertise.” – Rhodel D’souza, Head of Markets Digital Assets, J.P. Morgan.

Delivery-versus-payment is the bedrock of securities settlement: it ensures the asset and cash move simultaneously to eliminate principal risk. Traditional markets achieve this through a multi-day chain of clearinghouses, depositories, and custodians, tying up capital for one to two days. Solana DvP hopes to compress that process into a single atomic transaction: both legs settle together, or neither does, with finality in seconds rather than days.

The program is meant for the assets institutions can hold. Solana DvP supports SPL Token and Token-2022, including the extensions regulated issuers depend on — like permanent delegate, pausable tokens, and transfer hooks. Any two counterparties can use it with any settlement agent — a bank, a custodian, an exchange. J.P. Morgan’s feedback helped shape the program to meet institutional requirements from day one. The result is an open standard that anyone can adopt, build on, and use.

Solana DvP has undergone external security audits and is ready for use with real funds. We also plan to add privacy into the program so that trade settlements can be made private and confidential.

Solana Foundation welcomes design partners and early participants ahead of the production release. Learn more here, or explore the code on GitHub.

About Solana
Solana is a high performance network powering internet capital markets, payments, AI agents, and crypto applications. Solana operates as a single global state machine, and is open, interoperable and decentralized. For more information, please visit https://solana.com.

About Solana Foundation
Solana Foundation is a non-profit based in Zug, Switzerland, dedicated to the decentralization, growth, and security of Solana. For more information, please visit https://solana.org

Media Contact: press@solana.org 

Disclaimer
J.P. Morgan’s involvement with Solana DvP was limited to providing input regarding securities settlement practices and should not be construed as J.P. Morgan designing, developing, operating, approving, certifying, warranting, endorsing, or guaranteeing Solana DvP or its performance in any way.

Disclaimer
The material provided by the Solana Foundation (where relevant herein, “Solana“) is provided to you for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or investment advice. No aspect of these materials has been approved or otherwise endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulator, and no part of these materials is or represents an offer to buy or sell any financial product, including a security.

The information provided herein is not intended to influence, persuade, or induct any investment-related decision. Third-party data, information, or other content has not been endorsed or approved by Solana. Solana has not conducted, and does not purport to have conducted, any extensive or approved legal analysis regarding the permissibility or regulatory status of the matters discussed herein. You should not assume that any activity or product described is permitted or compliant with applicable laws or regulations.

Investing in securities, generally, and in particular investing in tokenized securities is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. We strongly encourage you to complete your own independent due diligence before considering offering or purchasing tokenized securities including obtaining additional information, opinions, financial projections, legal, or other investment advice. The figures, projections, and other relevant data herein are hypothetical in nature and should not be indicative of future or expected results. There can be no guarantee that actual performance will achieve comparable results. Neither Solana, nor any of its affiliates, and any of its and their respective officers, directors, agents, or employees provide any investment advice, endorsement, analysis, or recommendations with respect to any securities and no communication from Solana, through any medium, should be construed as such.

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SOURCE Solana Foundation

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