Nasa Book to Detail How ISS Research Helps Improve Life on Earth

It highlights benefits in a number of key areas including human health, disaster relief and education programs to inspire future scientists, engineers and space explorers.

"Some 250 miles overhead, astronauts are conducting critical researches, which makes tremendous advances in our lives while helping to expand human presence beyond low Earth orbit," said William Gerstenmaier, Nasa associate administrator for human exploration and operations.

"In the next few years, SpaceX and Boeing will send our crews to orbit from the US, increasing the size of space station crews to seven, doubling the amount of crew time to conduct research for all of humanity," he said.

The space station, which has been continuously occupied since November 2000, has been visited by more than 200 people and a variety of international and commercial spacecraft.

In a partnership between five member space agencies representing 15 countries, it advances a unified goal to utilise the orbiting laboratory for the betterment of humanity.

"People do not realise how much their lives today have been made better by the space station," said Julie Robinson, ISS chief scientist," he added.

Scientists use the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), also known as Kibo, to research effective drugs that may improve the lives of patients suffering around the globe.

The ISS with its European Columbus laboratory is steadily producing lots of important research results which are relevant for many areas of life on Earth.

"The Canadian robotics system that helped build and now operates on the ISS has led to tools that give doctors new ways to detect cancer, operate on sick children, and perform neurosurgery on patients once considered to be inoperable," added Nicole Buckley, chief scientist with CSA.

The book will be released at the fourth annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference this week.