SUBSA-InSPA-SSCug

Primordial Fossil: Optical Micrograph depicting the morphology of Semimetal-Semiconductor Composite (SSC) crystal surface grown in the ISS-SUBSA-MSG facility during Mission 1. The unique surface appearance resembles a wrinkled sheet or a crumpled foil, typically not observed on terrestrial grown crystal surfaces. This discovery could provide insight into the fundamental origin of energy distribution during the crystal growth in reduced gravity. This unique attribute could be further utilized for the development of large-scale crystal production in space with atomic scale perfection. (Image courtesy of Partha Dutta, United Semiconductors LLC)

jsc2025e067417 (8/5/2025) --- Microscopic image of a semimetal-semiconductor composite (SSC) wafer extracted from one of four crystals grown in the International Space Station’s SUBSA facility during the first SUBSA-InSPA-SSCug mission. Credit: United Semiconductors LLC

Album Northrop_Grumman_CRS-23_Science