NASA to conduct research aboard space station for Goodyear

SAN FRANCISCO — NASA scientists aboard the International Space Station will conduct experiments later this year on Goodyear's behalf to see how the station's microgravity environment might affect the formation of silica particles.

Goodyear said it hopes the experiments will help its engineers and scientists "determine if further investigation of unique forms of precipitated silica should be considered in tires."

Goodyear announced the agreement with NASA during the ISS Research and Development Conference taking place in San Francisco.

The company said recent academic experiments in microgravity conditions "have demonstrated the ability to generate unique morphologies that could show potential in delivering higher performance products."

Any breakthrough associated with the Goodyear investigation on the space station "could lead to improvements in fuel efficiency and other performance factors," the company said.

Tread rubber compounded with precipitated silica in place of or in combination with carbon black helps reduce rolling resistance in tires without compromising wet grip.

The in-space evaluation is being conducted through an agreement with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the organization tasked by the National Aeronautics & Space Administration to manage the ISS U.S. National Laboratory.

"The ISS National Lab can provide companies and researchers opportunities to evaluate materials within their product line and in ways not previously possible," Cynthisa Bouthout, CASIS director of commercial innovation for CASIS, said.

The Goodyear experiment "further demonstrates that companies are thinking creatively to enhance their product lines, while also looking at humanitarian ways to improve the condition of our planet," she added.

Goodyear will contribute an undisclosed investment sum toward the experiments, the company said.

CASIS is the non-profit selected to manage the ISS U.S. National Laboratory with a focus on enabling a new era of space research to improve life on Earth. In this role, CASIS promotes and brokers a diverse range of research in life sciences, physical sciences, remote sensing, technology development, and education.

To learn more about the on-orbit capabilities of the ISS U.S. National Laboratory, including past research initiatives and available facilities, visit spacestationresearch.com.