ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Scientific research on the ISS

Okay kiddo, let me tell you about scientific research on the International Space Station or the ISS. Scientists all around the world want to learn more about space and how it affects us on Earth. So, they send experiments to the ISS to learn more about space and how we can prepare for longer space missions in the future.

Now, you know how we use some things differently in space than we do on Earth, like how we eat or sleep. Scientists want to know how these changes affect our body and health in space. On the ISS, they study astronauts for a long time to see how they're doing and how their bodies are changing while they're in space. This helps them understand what we need to do before humans can travel to Mars or other planets.

Another thing that scientists research on the ISS is what happens to materials in space. They want to learn how materials like metals, plastics, and fabrics behave differently in space than they do on Earth. This research helps them make better materials that can be used in space exploration.

Lastly, scientists study how plants grow in space because we need oxygen from plants to breathe. They want to know if they can grow food in space for future missions. Also, it helps them understand how plants grow without gravity.

In short, scientists send experiments to the ISS to learn about space, how it affects us and the materials we use. They also study how plants grow in space. All this helps us learn more about space and prepare for future space exploration.