Summary: The DoW Space Test Program, in collaboration with NASA, the International Space Station National Laboratory, and an international coalition of government, academic, and industry partners, launched two innovative missions, STP-H11 and POLARIS, to the ISS on May 15, 2026. These missions represent cutting-edge advancements in space technology and biotechnology research, supporting both national defense and scientific discovery.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Department of War (DoW) Space Test Program (STP), in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, and an international coalition of government, academic, and industry partners, launched two innovative missions to the ISS on May 15, 2026 aboard the SpaceX-34 commercial resupply mission. The two missions—STP-H11 and POLARIS—represent cutting-edge advancements in space technology and biotechnology research, supporting both national defense and scientific discovery.
Space Test Program-Houston 11 (STP-H11) is the latest in the DoW’s STP-Houston series of science and technology demonstration missions. The 1,000-pound payload launched in the unpressurized “Dragon Trunk” section of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Once docked to the ISS, STP-H11 will be robotically installed on the exterior of the European Space Agency’s Columbus module, where it will operate for a minimum of one year.
The STP-H11 payload hosts five experiments—four prioritized by the DoW Space Experiments Review Board and one NASA experiment—focused on advancing critical space technologies. They include:
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AIMSS (Autonomous Ion Mass Spectrometer Sentry): A Los Alamos National Lab and U.S. Air Force (USAF) Academy project for monitoring natural perturbations and spacecraft charging to prevent electronic failure and communication loss.
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DIADEM (DIAmond Drive for Enhanced Mobility): An Air Force Research Laboratory project to space-qualify the novel Double Diamond Electron Emitter.
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Glowbug-2: A Naval Research Laboratory technology demonstrator utilizing low-cost gamma-ray telescopes to study cosmic Gamma Ray Bursts.
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SCARIF (Sensor to Calibrate and Analyze Radio frequency (RF) waves and Interstellar Frequencies): A U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command project using Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning (AI/ML) to calibrate terrestrial antennas against galactic sources.
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STORIE (Storm Time O+ Ring current Imaging Evolution): A NASA-led imaging project determining the evolution of energetic trapped particles and their impacts on space weather.
In a groundbreaking international effort, the Polar Organisms Launched for Astrobiology Research in Ionizing Space (POLARIS) mission will study "extremophile" microbes from Antarctica and Chile. This collaboration involving the USAF Office of Scientific Research, the U.S. Air Force Academy, DoW STP, and Biociencia Fundación Científica y Cultural of Chile aims to identify specific genes responsible for DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) repair and radiation protection.
Launched inside the pressurized section of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, POLARIS consists of 25 specialized Biochambers integrated to a Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) Science Carrier. Once onboard the ISS, POLARIS will go through an airlock and will be robotically mounted to the MISSE Flight Facility. After six months of space exposure, POLARIS will return to Earth aboard SpaceX-36 for analysis. The findings from this research have the potential to revolutionize biofuel production and biomanufacturing in the world's most austere environments.
The DoW Space Test Program plays a critical role in accelerating the development of space capabilities for national defense by providing access to space for high-priority science and technology experiments. By leveraging partnerships with NASA, international collaborators, and commercial providers, STP continues to expand space access and demonstrate emerging technologies that strengthen joint and allied operational readiness.
The STP-H11 mission was supported by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Access Portfolio Acquisition Executive, Space Combat Power Program Executive Office, and Space Systems Command’s System Delta 89.
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About Space Systems Command
Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities to outpace emerging threats and protect our Nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space. SSC manages a $15.6 billion annual space acquisition budget for the Department of War, working with joint forces, industry partners, government agencies, academia, and allied nations. For more information, visit ssc.spaceforce.mil and follow @USSF-SSC on LinkedIn.
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