Space: The Final Frontier for Standards
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is extending its standards expertise into low Earth orbit with a new mission that sends seven carefully characterized “standard reference materials” to the International Space Station. These materials, which include house dust, freeze-dried human liver tissue, cholesterol, and other specimens, will help scientists understand how the space environment affects everyday substances that are critical to health, safety and advanced manufacturing. As more research and commercial activity moves into space — from drug development to materials science — consistent, comparable measurements become essential so that experiments conducted in orbit can be trusted and replicated back on Earth.
To make that possible, NIST is partnering with NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce and biotech company Rhodium Scientific to establish measurement standards that will underpin a resilient, scalable space economy. By standardizing how biological and chemical changes are measured in space, the mission supports recent U.S. policy goals to strengthen leadership in the space sector and opens the door for more reliable, data-driven innovation in areas like pharmaceuticals, climate science, and advanced materials. For manufacturers and technology developers, this work lays the groundwork for future space-based R&D and production processes that depend on precise, internationally recognized measurements.
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Also, did you know that Polaris partners with NASA? Polaris helps plan and coordinate logistics between NASA innovators and the MEP network. In addition, we conduct research on manufacturing markets to explore partnership and technology‑transfer opportunities. If you are interested in learning more be sure to reach out.