Since 2001, microgravity experiments have been conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) in the physical sciences and have yielded rich results, some unexpected and most would not be observed in Earth-based labs. These results provided valuable insights into fundamental physical behavior that can apply to both terrestrial and space environments. Collecting this data in a single location not only provides scientists with scientific data from hundreds of NASA experiments, it also helps identify fields where more study is needed.

In fulfillment of the Open Science model, Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) system was initiated in 2014. The Physical Sciences Informatics is a tool NASA developed to serve as a data repository for the experiments conducted on the International Space Station (ISS), Space Shuttle, Free Flyers, or commercial cargo flights, and of related ground-based studies. The goal of the PSI system is to enable global access to cutting-edge research data to fuel innovation and discovery. It enables more scientists to conduct research using data from the rich heritage of reduced-gravity flight investigations conducted through the NASA Physical Sciences Research Program.

Each investigation will include actual "raw" or minimally processed science data as taken during experiment flight operations on the ISS. This data set is comprised of machine-readable textual or numerical form documents, digital images and videos. In some cases, the Physical Science Informatics (PSI) repository also contains analyzed or reduced data by the PI’s science team along with supporting data including science requirements, experiment design and engineering data (including applicable drawings), any analytical or numerical models, publications, reports, and patents, and description of any commercial products developed as a result of the research.

New physical science data is being added daily as we work to complete data sets for previously flown experiments in the areas of Biophysics, Combustion Science, Soft Matter/Complex Fluids, Fluid Physics, Fundamental Physics, and Materials Science. If the data you are looking for has not been loaded yet and you wish to be notified when it is, subscribe to be notified using the Notification button on the investigation record to receive system generated emails when the investigation record is updated.

History of BPS

In 2020, NASA transferred administrative oversight of NASA’s biological and physical sciences research from the Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications (SLPSRA) Division in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate into the Science Mission Directorate (SMD).

• Microgravity Research Program 1984-1998
• Office of Biological and Physical Research Program 1998-2004
• Advanced Life Support - Life Support and Habitation Program 2004-2006
• ISS Research Project 2006-2012
• Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Application Division 2012 - 2020 (SLPSRA)
• PSI was initiated in 2014 as an open science database.
• Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division 2020 – present

Open Science

NASA's Open Science and Open Data initiatives strive to help scientists discover and access datasets to perform primary, secondary, and meta-analyses. Further, the goals of Open Science are to ensure all data are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. In line with NASA’s commitment to fostering an open science community, PSI serves as an Open Science Data Repository (OSDR).