Science & Tech · Space · 2 hrs ago
Brain and heart tissue experiments arrive at the International Space Station
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft delivered more than 6,300 pounds of cargo to the ISS on October 15, 2026, including several science experiments.
Two projects will study lab-grown mini human brain models, called miBrains, during five weeks in microgravity and compare them with similar tissue kept on Earth.
Researchers will look for changes that could help explain risks to astronauts’ brain health on long missions.
Another experiment will study 3D human heart tissue, while a separate test will try to make more uniform artificial retina layers in space.
The retina project aims to develop a possible way to restore sight for people with retinal diseases.
Other research on the mission includes testing a compact device for analyzing biological samples and studying plant diseases in space.
The experiments are due back on Earth in mid-November, according to one account of the mission.
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft delivered brain and heart tissue experiments to the International Space Station on Oct. 15, 2026.
The cargo arrived on NASA’s SpaceX 35th commercial resupply mission, which launched on Oct. 13.
Two experiments will study lab-grown human brain models, including how spaceflight affects them over five weeks.
A separate experiment will examine how microgravity affects three-dimensional human heart tissue models.
The research aims to support astronaut health and may also inform medical research on Earth.
- Who
- NASA and researchers are conducting the experiments. The cargo was carried by SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
- What
- Brain and heart tissue experiments arrived at the ISS, along with other research cargo.
- When
- The Dragon launched on Oct. 13, 2026, and docked on Oct. 15.
- Where
- The International Space Station.
- Why
- To study how space conditions affect brain and heart tissue and support astronaut health and medical research.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
SpaceX CRS-35 launched from Earth aboard a Dragon spacecraft.
Dragon docked at the ISS and delivered the experiments and other cargo.
The experiments are expected to return to Earth, splashing down off the coast of California.
- Mission
- SpaceX CRS-35
- Launch date
- Oct. 13, 2026
- Docking date
- Oct. 15, 2026
- Cargo mass
- 2,860 kilograms (6,300 pounds)
- Brain experiment duration
- Five weeks
- Heart experiment
- Stellar Spheroids, studying 3D human heart tissue models
3 sources
What people are saying
The experiment sends small, lab-grown models of the human brain to the orbiting laboratory for five weeks
Researchers compare tissue models that traveled to space with identical ones kept on Earth to determine how a short spaceflight affects the human brain at the cellular level