• Official websites use .govA.govwebsite belongs to an official government organization in the United States. • Secure .gov websites use HTTPSAlock(LockA locked padlock) orhttps://means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. • Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. • https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2026/02/space-final-frontier-standards Space: The Final Frontier for Standards Share Seven NIST reference materials, including house dust and freeze-dried human liver tissue, have been flown to the International Space Station. • Reference materials are well-measured items used in research and industry to calibrate instruments and ensure accurate measurements. • Sending these materials into orbit will help answer important questions about how the extreme environment of space affects manufacturing and human health.
Article Summaries:
- In August 2025, seven NIST‑approved reference materials-including cholesterol, house dust, and a freeze‑dried human liver-were launched aboard a Falcon 9 to the International Space Station. The shipment, a joint effort by NIST, NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce, and Rhodium Scientific, aims to support U.S. leadership in commercial and scientific space activities. These standard reference materials will help calibrate instruments and validate experiments in microgravity, aiding drug development, quality control, and cross‑disciplinary research. The initiative underscores the growing need for reliable standards as space becomes a platform for extended human presence and commercial ventures.
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