NASA Extends ISS National Lab Contract Through 2030 — CASIS to Continue Stewardship

04:34 AM, 12/05/2025

NASA has renewed CASIS's contract to manage the ISS National Laboratory through 2030, extending an arrangement that began in 2011. The lab enables science that can't be done on Earth and has supported research in cancer, neurodegenerative disease, aging, manufacturing and communications. About 60% of the 940+ payloads have come from private companies, and the program has backed more than 630 peer-reviewed studies. CASIS also runs accelerator, prize and education programs and partners with agencies such as NSF, NIH and NASA on funded projects.

NASA Extends ISS National Lab Contract Through 2030

NASA has extended its contract with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), keeping the nonprofit organization in charge of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory through 2030, CASIS announced.

CASIS has managed the ISS National Lab since 2011, when Congress created the program to accelerate research and build a robust commercial market in Low Earth Orbit by leveraging space's unique microgravity and other conditions.

"For nearly 14 years, NASA has entrusted CASIS with managing this incredible asset for our nation and for the benefit of humanity," said Ramon Lugo, Principal Investigator and Chief Executive Officer of CASIS. "We will continue to work in collaboration, pushing the limits of space-based research and development for the benefit of life on Earth while driving a robust and sustainable market economy in space."

Research, Commercial Partnerships and Impact

The National Lab hosts research that cannot be conducted on Earth. Over the past 14 years it has supported projects in cancer research, neurodegenerative disease and aging studies, space-based manufacturing, communications technology and other fields.

Commercial activity has been strong: roughly 60% of the more than 940 scientific payloads processed by the National Lab to date have come from private firms, ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to early-stage startups. CASIS reports the program has supported over 630 peer-reviewed studies that help establish the scientific foundation for future applications with broad potential benefits.

Programs, Awards and Partnerships

CASIS has supported innovation through competitions and acceleration programs, including the Boeing- and CASIS-funded Technology in Space Prize. In 2025 CASIS launched the Orbital Edge Accelerator, awarding $500,000 to each of six startups with backing from global investment partners.

CASIS also partners with U.S. research agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health to support both physical- and life-science investigations. In 2024 the National Lab and NASA's Biological and Physical Sciences Division jointly awarded $7 million to five projects aimed at advancing cancer research.

Education and Future Operations

Education is a core mission: CASIS runs programs that engage students of all ages and incorporate National Lab activities aboard the ISS to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

The contract extension arrives as the ISS continues to support international space activities. The station is scheduled to receive several cargo flights from Boeing's Starliner vehicle, which experienced propulsion issues during a crewed test flight last year but is slated for subsequent resupply missions.

Looking ahead: The extension through 2030 gives CASIS and its partners additional runway to advance commercial uses of the ISS, accelerate space-enabled science, and translate orbital research into practical benefits on Earth.