U.S. Space Force launches experiments to International Space Station

Published April 25, 2025

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) -- The Space Force Space Systems Command, in partnership with NASA, successfully launched the Space Test Program-Houston 10 mission, which delivered five U.S. Department of Defense and one NASA experimental science payloads, as a part of a resupply mission to the International Space Station.

The DoD Space Experiments Review Board and NASA experiments, representing a collaboration between SSC, NASA, the Naval Research Laboratory, the Air Force Academy and the Missile Defense Agency, hitched a ride aboard SpaceX’s Commercial Resupply Service-32 mission. Liftoff occurred on Monday, April 21, at 4:15 am EDT, from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, with the experiments traveling inside a Cargo Dragon spacecraft.

The STP-H10 payload was robotically installed on the exterior of the European Space Agency Columbus module. This strategic location will provide the experiments with the necessary power and data connections to operate for their one-year mission duration.

“The Space Test Program provides a vital pathway for the DoD to explore new technologies in the harsh environment of space,” said Lt. Col. Brian Shimek, DoD Space Test Program SSC director. “STP-H10 represents our commitment to innovation, and the data gathered from these six experiments will directly contribute to the development of future Space Force capabilities.”

The six experiments comprising the STP-H10 mission are:

the Neutron Radiation Detection Instrument - 1B, from NRL, which will characterize the on-orbit performance of microstructured semiconductor neutron detectors.

the Falcon Optical Defense and Intelligence through Neuromorphics, from USAFA, which will demonstrate the ability to use high speed imagery from space to investigate the basic physics aspects of lightning and sprites in the earth’s atmosphere.

the cadmium zinc TElluride Radiation Imager, from NRL, which will space qualify large-volume cadmium zinc telluride radiation detectors.

the Space Edge Experiments and Demonstrations, from MDA and Novi LLC, which will test processing hardware and machine learning algorithms to deliver near-real time actionable information.

the Space Plasma Diagnostic Suite 3, from NRL, which will monitor space weather conditions and spacecraft charging, providing critical situational awareness for spacecraft operators.

the Solar Flare X-Ray Timing Investigation, from Montana State University and sponsored by NASA, which will reveal the temporal dynamics of solar flares.

The STP-H10 mission is managed by the DoD Space Test Program office at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, with an Operating Location at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The DoD STP plays a critical role in advancing space technology by providing experimental demonstration opportunities and rapid access to space for research and development projects.

In addition to managing the mission, the STP team designed and built the integrated payload that will connect the six experiments to the ISS infrastructure, enabling seamless data collection. Furthermore, STP-developed avionics are integral to the build and testing of these experimental platforms on the ISS.

Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force’s field command responsible for acquiring, developing and delivering resilient capabilities to protect our nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space. SSC manages a $15.6 billion space acquisition budget for the DoD and works in partnership with joint forces, industry, government agencies and academic and allied organizations to outpace emerging threats. Space Systems Command's actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow.

Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding this topic by sending an e-mail to sscpa.media@spaceforce.mil or https://www.nasa.gov/contact/