The 5th Annual ISS Research and Development Conference brought together the industry giants to speak on innovating science and technology, commercialization of space, and personal experiences onboard the International Space Station.  Its theme was the “Catalyst for Discovery.”

Day one’s line-up included a keynote with Dr. Sanjay Gupta with Former NASA Astronauts on “Insights into the One-year Mission, Twins Study and the Advancement of Health on Planet Earth.” Astronaut Scott Kelly revealed new revelations.  The one-year in space was not originally a twins study.  Scott Kelly was responsible for engaging NASA to include his brother, Astronaut Mark Kelly, as the “control” for the research.  The conversation began and NASA pursued.

Day-to-day sessions were filled with large industry leaders’ and followed by technical briefings. The main sessions were grandiose, as expected, and the technical sessions were active with highly valuable.  The gathering was brimming with intellectual industry movers and shakers coming up in the industry.  The researchers were from independent studies and universities, both self-funded and backed by NASA grants. CD-SEAS Mission Microgravity was selected to give a briefing presentation during the conference on “Compound Derivative Series – Synthesis and Evaluation of Antimicrobials in Space: the Evolution from Laboratory Ground Studies to the Advent of a Flight Campaign.”

CASIS, NASA, NSBRI, and NASA Astronauts were circling the networking event each night.  As a result, CD-SEAS Mission Microgravity had the opportunity to talk with many of the Project Integration Managers, NASA lead scientists and partnering NASA companies during the conference.  CD-SEAS is hopeful to be on the trajectory for launching to ISS in the near future.

Photo credit: https://flickr.com/photos/62148950@N00/358119965/