With its environment, the (ISS) provides researchers unique opportunities to study the effects of spaceflight on the , , and other systems.ms.

Various companies and universities partner with to perform their experiments aboard the ISS, making the space station a constant hub of scientific research..

What is it?

The project, which is part of NASA's In Space Production Applications (InSPA) , is led by the company United Semiconductors LLC, in collaboration with and Redwire..

Where is it?

The crystals for the wafer were grown aboard the ISS in , approximately 250 miles (402 kilometers) above our planet.

Why is it amazing?

Growing composite crystals on Earth can be tricky, as "needles" or in the semimetals of the crystal can develop and compromise its purity. These imperfections are due to driving changes in how the semimetals within the crystal settle and form. For devices like electronic sensors, where these crystals need to be extremely precise and uniform, this process can pose a significant challenge.e.

But if the crystals are grown in microgravity, the process can be much better controlled. In this recent experiment, crystals were grown successfully aboard the ISS, a first step toward overcoming this key issue.e.