Materials science investigates the structure and properties of materials primarily through chemistry and physics. Bridging the gap between science and engineering, this interdisciplinary field aims to solve real-world problems and has been foundational in building human society throughout our history.

Materials science research works to establish and improve the properties of materials including metals, ceramics, polymers, alloys, glasses, and nanomaterials. The applications of materials science are seemingly limitless—spaceflight, electrical engineering, renewable energy, computing, biomedical science, and nanotechnology are just a few of the possibilities.  

On Earth, many materials’ characteristics and properties are strongly influenced by gravity. Gravity-driven forces like convection, sedimentation, and shear stress can disrupt a material’s internal structure, obscure some of its behaviors, or even inhibit its fabrication altogether. During phase transitions, gravity-driven flows can cause materials of different densities to separate into layers (stratify), potentially reducing a material’s strength or stability. Sedimentation can damage delicate, growing crystals or cause coarsening, the process of smaller particles merging into bigger ones.  

But onboard the space station, researchers and innovators can leverage the low-gravity environment to examine materials behaviors that gravity typically veils. On orbit, it becomes possible to exploit material properties in new ways for novel applications. The unique conditions of space also allow investigators to heat and cool materials to extreme temperatures and to test their durability against high levels of corrosion and ionizing radiation.

The ISS hosts a comprehensive catalog of equipment for materials development. One example, the Materials Science Research Rack-1 (MSRR-1), contains multiple modules to support basic research and advanced diagnostics across a broad range of interests. The MSRR-1 can accommodate material types including semiconductors, crystals, polymers, ceramics, metals, alloys, glasses, and novel material yet to be discovered.

Research onboard the ISS is just the starting point for the potential of materials science in space. The unique environmental properties of Low Earth Orbit will pave the way for the full development of a manufacturing economy in space, aboard Axiom Station.