Readout of the White House Microgravity Science Summit

The Biden-Harris Administration has made it a priority to maintain a preeminent global position in space, thanks to steadfast investments in space research, technology development, and strategic collaborations. The International Space Station has long been a platform for conducting science in the microgravity environment in low-Earth orbit. It is crucial the United States maintains leadership in space research as its phased retirement begins at the end of this decade to ensure the American people can continue to benefit from a cost-effective, easily accessible proving ground for technologies and research in areas of medicine, manufacturing, communications, agriculture, and national security.

To highlight the progress made under the Biden-Harris Administration and emphasize the need for continued focus, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy hosted a Microgravity Science Summit today. The summit brought together leaders from the federal government and community stakeholders to build a coalition for the next generation of microgravity research in space that will utilize commercial orbital platforms.

At the summit, attendees learned about how the community is making advancements in groundbreaking science and technology, including transformational research and development in areas of in-space manufacturing, stem cell aging and cancer research, wildland fire management, and semiconductor crystal growth. This summit builds on the progress that the Biden-Harris Administration has made to advance microgravity research and lay the foundation for the next generation of innovation in space.

Maintaining and strengthening United States Government collaboration in microgravity science research will ensure the United States remains the global leader and partner of choice for the transition from the International Space Station to commercial orbital platforms and other space research facilities for decades to come.

More on the Administration’s work to maintain a preeminent global position in space: Last year the Biden-Harris Administration released the National Low Earth Orbit Research and Development Strategy. The Strategy provides a vision to advance sustainable low Earth orbit research and development activities. The Strategy supports the United States Space Priorities Framework with a focus on scientific and technological innovation, economic growth, commercial development, and space-related STEM education and workforce development.

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