Did you know the space station is also a national laboratory? Through the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, researchers of all disciplines can leverage this one-of-a-kind facility for research and technology development that benefits life on Earth. The ISS is our orbiting outpost in low Earth orbit. It circles our planet 16 times a day! For more than 20 years, humans from around the world have lived and worked on the space station. This unique platform allows researchers to push the limits of science and innovation in ways not possible on Earth.

The International Space Station (ISS) houses a national laboratory similar to laboratories here on Earth, yet offering specific features of the space environment, including a unique vantage point, extreme conditions, and microgravity (weightlessness). Image Credit: NASA

The Infinite Experience

Felix & Paul Studios partnered with the ISS National Lab to launch 360-degree cameras to the orbiting laboratory to capture footage of the astronaut’s epic conquests in space. In association with TIME Studios, Felix & Paul Studios used more than 250 hours of high-end virtual reality footage to produce “Space Explorers: The ISS Experience,” an Emmy Award-winning series available to the public through virtual reality headsets and in normal definition.

Following the success of “Space Explorers: The ISS Experience,” Felix & Paul Studios sought to take the show on the road, producing Space Explorers: The Infinite, the world’s largest interactive and immersive experience centered on the space station. Space Explorers: The Infinite is a traveling exhibit that take guests on a 60-minute journey as they roam freely inside a full-scale 3D replica of the International Space Station and float in space alongside the astronauts. After debuting in Houston, Space Explorers: The Infinite will finish the year in San Francisco, with plans to travel to other major U.S. cities moving forward!

A NASA astronaut installs MISSE, a facility mounted outside the space station that enables the testing of materials and components in the extreme environment of space. Image Credit: NASA

Who Can Conduct Research on the ISS Through the ISS National Lab?

Anyone! From Fortune 500 companies and highly recognizable brands to innovative startups, academic institutions, and U.S. government agencies, the ISS is open to anyone who wants to take their science to the next level! Go to www.ISSNationalLab.org to learn more about how the ISS National Lab is enabling access and opportunity for innovative research in low Earth orbit.