The CES 2023 event covered literal out-of-this-world technology with a specific focus on tech development in low-earth orbit. The panelist was Jackie Woddles, a reporter from CNN, with a panel including the International Space Station's National Laboratory and Proctor and Gamble, and Redwire, all of which were doing work on the ISS.
Mike Roberts - ISS national laboratory chief scientist
Shared how the fundamentals have changed when conducting research in space, which the ISS had to harness for the benefit of the earth. Roberts shared how the ISS has built a portfolio that engages with other US economy sectors.
Roberts noted that they had increased access to space for other US government departments and more. Roberts also specifically highlighted SpaceX as a proponent in helping bring down the costs of space exploration.
Mark Sivik - P&G Research Fellow
Roberts then highlighted how Proctor & Gamble and Redwire are working towards research in things like polymetric systems to understand how to make products stable and more efficient. They want to understand their systems' stability to help assist astronauts in deep space.
Mark Sivik, a research fellow with Proctor & Gamble, shared how astronauts didn't do laundry in space which is why they designed a detergent system to dress hygiene and increase their cleaning system efficiency.
Kenneth Savin - Redwire Chief Scientist
Savin focused more on biofortification, sharing a tissue center capable of printing something that can be used in space and on earth. They plan to further their capabilities to the point of printing full 3D organs.
Savin also highlighted the regulatory hurdles that could incur when it comes to the research as it ventures into the medical or pharmaceutical fields. Redwire's chief scientist remains positive about how their solar rays benefit astronauts in terms of better efficient solar panels.
The Selection of Experiments
Roberts said that to determine which experiments to work with, they are looking for projects that will bring the most benefit or the need for the microgravity environment. To evaluate, they start with the science and technology development goal.
After this, Roberts shared how they partner with companies like Redwire to determine the most efficient way to conduct experiments. The chief scientist noted that astronauts could carry out 400 experiments over the course of six months.
Roberts also noted how they saw an increase in interest coming from the pharmaceutical sector.
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Tech Companies and Their Involvement
Roberts noted that they are working with companies looking to be a successor to the ISS. The space station is scheduled to be used until 2030 "or so," which means they are looking for the next step.
The CES 2023 event downlinked with astronauts as Woddles shared that there could be a 10-second delay due to their live stream being done in 4K, the first time NASA has used this technology.
The initial back-and-forth with the scientists included delays, but they shared how every day is different for the astronauts. The scientists shared how their research focused on recent experiments like growing dwarf tomatoes in space to prepare for their trip to mars.
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