Inside the Space Life Sciences Laboratory at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, bobtail squid are part of preparations on May 20, 2021, for the Understanding of Microgravity on Animal-Microbe Interactions (UMAMI) experiment that will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services mission. The experiment will examine the effects of spaceflight on the molecular and chemical interactions between beneficial microbes and their animal hosts. Amimals, including humans, rely on microbes to maintain a healthy digestive and immune system. UMAMI is one of several experiments bound for the space station in the Dragon capsule atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission is scheduled to lift off from Launch Complex 39A on June 3.

A researcher from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida prepares pepper seeds for planting inside science carriers on April 8, 2021, inside the Space Life Sciences Lab for the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment. The seeds will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-22) mission. When the experiment starts, astronauts will grow the pepper seeds in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) growth chamber, which will monitor the experiment with more than 180 sensors. The astronauts will observe plant growth for about four months and conduct two harvests to study whether microgravity affects growth, flavor, or texture. Since peppers take longer to germinate, grow, and develop than previous crops grown in space, the PH-04 experiment also will test the durability and reliability of the various systems within the APH.

Inside the Space Life Sciences Laboratory at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Jamie Foster, principal investigator on the Understanding of Microgravity on Animal-Microbe Interactions (UMAMI) experiment, demonstrates preparations for bobtail squid on May 20, 2021, for a trip to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services mission. The experiment will examine the effects of spaceflight on the molecular and chemical interactions between beneficial microbes and their animal hosts. Amimals, including humans, rely on microbes to maintain a healthy digestive and immune system. UMAMI is one of several experiments bound for the space station in the Dragon capsule atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission is scheduled to lift off from Launch Complex 39A on June 3.

Inside the Space Life Sciences Laboratory at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, bobtail squid are part of preparations on May 20, 2021, for the Understanding of Microgravity on Animal-Microbe Interactions (UMAMI) experiment that will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services mission. The experiment will examine the effects of spaceflight on the molecular and chemical interactions between beneficial microbes and their animal hosts. Animals, including humans, rely on microbes to maintain a healthy digestive and immune system. UMAMI is one of several experiments bound for the space station in the Dragon capsule atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission is scheduled to lift off from Launch Complex 39A on June 3.

Inside the Space Life Sciences Lab at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, researchers plant pepper seeds in a science carrier on April 8, 2021, in preparation for the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment. The seeds will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-22) mission. When the experiment starts, astronauts will grow the pepper seeds in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) growth chamber, which will monitor the experiment with more than 180 sensors. The astronauts will observe plant growth for about four months and conduct two harvests to study whether microgravity affects growth, flavor, or texture. Since peppers take longer to germinate, grow, and develop than previous crops grown in space, the PH-04 experiment also will test the durability and reliability of the various systems within the APH.

A researcher from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida prepares pepper seeds for planting inside science carriers on April 8, 2021, inside the Space Life Sciences Lab for the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment. The seeds will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-22) mission. When the experiment starts, astronauts will grow the pepper seeds in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) growth chamber, which will monitor the experiment with more than 180 sensors. The astronauts will observe plant growth for about four months and conduct two harvests to study whether microgravity affects growth, flavor, or texture. Since peppers take longer to germinate, grow, and develop than previous crops grown in space, the PH-04 experiment also will test the durability and reliability of the various systems within the APH.

Inside the Space Life Sciences Laboratory at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Dr. Eric Koch, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Florida, demonstrates preparations for bobtail squid on May 20, 2021, for a trip to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services mission. The experiment will examine the effects of spaceflight on the molecular and chemical interactions between beneficial microbes and their animal hosts. Amimals, including humans, rely on microbes to maintain a healthy digestive and immune system. UMAMI is one of several experiments bound for the space station in the Dragon capsule atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission is scheduled to lift off from Launch Complex 39A on June 3.

Inside the Space Life Sciences Lab at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a researcher plants pepper seeds in science carriers on April 8, 2021, in preparation for the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment. The seeds will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-22) mission. When the experiment starts, astronauts will grow the pepper seeds in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) growth chamber, which will monitor the experiment with more than 180 sensors. The astronauts will observe plant growth for about four months and conduct two harvests to study whether microgravity affects growth, flavor, or texture. Since peppers take longer to germinate, grow, and develop than previous crops grown in space, the PH-04 experiment also will test the durability and reliability of the various systems within the APH.

Inside the Space Life Sciences Laboratory at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, bobtail squid are part of preparations on May 20, 2021, for the Understanding of Microgravity on Animal-Microbe Interactions (UMAMI) experiment that will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services mission. The experiment will examine the effects of spaceflight on the molecular and chemical interactions between beneficial microbes and their animal hosts. Amimals, including humans, rely on microbes to maintain a healthy digestive and immune system. UMAMI is one of several experiments bound for the space station in the Dragon capsule atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission is scheduled to lift off from Launch Complex 39A on June 3.

Kennedy Space Center Associate Director, Technical, Jennifer Kunz speaks at an event Sept. 27, 2021, announcing that Terran Orbital will locate its Commercial Spacecraft and Constellation Facility on NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The new manufacturing facility will be built near the center’s Launch and Landing Facility, which is being managed and developed by Space Florida under a long-term agreement with NASA. Terran Orbital develops end-to-end satellite solutions as well as commercial spacecraft. The 660,000 square foot manufacturing facility will consist of ten automated and augmented hangers capable of producing thousands of different types of space vehicles and electro-mechanical devices per year. The project is expected to create about 2,100 new jobs, with a planned completion date in 2025. The announcement ceremony was held at Space Florida’s Space Life Sciences Lab in Exploration Park, Florida. Seated directly behind Kunz is Space Florida President and CEO Frank DiBello (left) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (second from left).

A close-up photo of a pepper seed prepared by researchers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida is shown before it’s planted inside a science carrier on April 8, 2021, inside the Space Life Sciences Lab for the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment. The seeds will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-22) mission. When the experiment starts, astronauts will grow the pepper seeds in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) growth chamber, which will monitor the experiment with more than 180 sensors. The astronauts will observe plant growth for about four months and conduct two harvests to study whether microgravity affects growth, flavor, or texture. Since peppers take longer to germinate, grow, and develop than previous crops grown in space, the PH-04 experiment also will test the durability and reliability of the various systems within the APH.

Inside the Space Life Sciences Laboratory at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Dr. Eric Koch, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Florida, demonstrates preparations for bobtail squid on May 20, 2021, for a trip to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services mission. The experiment will examine the effects of spaceflight on the molecular and chemical interactions between beneficial microbes and their animal hosts. Amimals, including humans, rely on microbes to maintain a healthy digestive and immune system. UMAMI is one of several experiments bound for the space station in the Dragon capsule atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission is scheduled to lift off from Launch Complex 39A on June 3.

A researcher from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida prepares pepper seeds for planting inside science carriers on April 8, 2021, inside the Space Life Sciences Lab for the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment. The seeds will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-22) mission. When the experiment starts, astronauts will grow the pepper seeds in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) growth chamber, which will monitor the experiment with more than 180 sensors. The astronauts will observe plant growth for about four months and conduct two harvests to study whether microgravity affects growth, flavor, or texture. Since peppers take longer to germinate, grow, and develop than previous crops grown in space, the PH-04 experiment also will test the durability and reliability of the various systems within the APH.