SpaceX CRS-35 to Deliver NASA Health and Plant Research to the ISS

NASA's 35th Commercial Resupply Services flight, operated by SpaceX, is set to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida carrying a suite of four biological experiments to the International Space Station. One study will send tiny, lab-grown human brain models to orbit for five weeks to compare cellular changes with Earth-based controls, seeking clues about how spaceflight stresses the brain. Another will examine whether a fungal disease spreads more quickly in microgravity by contrasting infected crops grown on the station with those on Earth, with potential benefits for both space farming and terrestrial agriculture.

The mission also includes the first test of a compact microplate reader that can measure antibodies, antigens and proteins directly in space, promising faster health monitoring for crews. Finally, a precision-health project will track antibiotic-resistant bacteria on station surfaces to understand their evolution in microgravity and inform strategies to protect astronauts and combat superbugs on Earth. Together, these experiments support both future deep-space exploration and practical health and food security advances on the ground.