NASA-funded project sends live cell system to International Space Station.

Nikon’s Live Cell Observation System Selected for Space Research Mission

Nikon Corporation (Nikon) and its U.S.-based subsidiary, Nikon Instruments Inc. (NII), are excited to announce that their live cell observation system has been chosen for a research project on the effects of microgravity in life sciences and drug discovery aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This project is supported by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the manager of the ISS National Laboratory. The system will be part of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) 24 mission scheduled to launch on April 9, 2026.

The upcoming mission will focus on the operational verification of an observational microscope system that is used to culture, maintain, and observe live cells and tissues in a microgravity environment. This research is crucial for understanding the effects of gravity on biological tissues and could potentially provide insights into aging phenomena and diseases in living organisms.

Nikon has a long history of collaboration with NASA, dating back to the Apollo 15 mission in 1971. Over the years, Nikon cameras and lenses have been used in various NASA missions and space shuttle explorations. Most recently, the Nikon Z9, the flagship model of Nikon’s mirrorless camera lineup, is being used on the ISS. The company’s expertise in microscopy has also been demonstrated through its provision of microscopes for use on the ISS.

In 2021, Nikon was selected for an ISS development support project for private companies, with funding from the U.S. government. This project focuses on developing equipment that allows for long-term visual analysis of cell behavior and biological tissue responses to pharmaceuticals in the limited space of the ISS experiment module. The contract for this project has been signed between NASA and NII, with NII handling project management and Nikon and NII jointly responsible for the development of the live cell observation system.

During the upcoming mission, observations using the Microphysiological Systems (MPS) will be conducted via the Nikon Experimentation Microscope in Orbit (NEMO). This system combines Nikon’s live cell observation system, which can observe and evaluate the behavior of cells and biological tissues with high precision, with a cell culture incubator and automated media perfusion system developed by BioServe Space Technologies in Colorado, U.S. BioServe’s system maintains an optimal environment for cells, while Nikon’s live cell observation system serves as the microscope, enabling high-precision evaluation and analysis of the effects of microgravity on living organisms through observation of cell behavior and biological tissue responses in space.

Microphysiological Systems are 3D culture systems that create an environment mimicking conditions inside living organisms. This technology is crucial for studying the effects of microgravity on biological tissues and could pave the way for advancements in human extraterrestrial activities.

The research conducted on the ISS is expected to attract attention from global life science companies, including pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology firms, as cutting-edge research in this field could lead to the development of new pharmaceuticals and treatments.

Through this project, Nikon aims to leverage its technical expertise and insights gained from the research to contribute to life science advancements and technological innovation. The company sees itself as a bridge connecting space and Earth, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and advancements in the field of life sciences.
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