Nanoracks - George Washington Carver Science Park

The George Washington Carver Science Park (GWC) managed by Nanoracks is the first ever science park in space.

Nanoracks is the world’s premier commercial provider of International Space Station hardware and services, facilitatating  both commercial and academic access to the park, providing mission management, payload integration and logistics services, and has already opened access to space to more scientists than at any time in history. Researchers can now pursue studies in an array of disciplines, with facilities soon to expand to include a biology and life sciences portion, a materials science section, and an AgriTech element.

The GWC is named in honour of the pioneering American agricultural scientist George Washington Carver, in recognition of his legacy of scientific discovery for the benefit of life on Earth. The GWC is already operating on the International Space Station (ISS) and is comprised of commercial research hardware and services supplied by Nanoracks. This hardware includes the Bishop Airlock, the first-ever permanent, wholly commercial module of the ISS; the Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD); the Nanoracks External Platform (NREP); a Plate Reader module; and other research hardware. GWC will offer use of the Park to resident companies and researchers, providing spaceflight and new in-space research opportunities for peers around the world.

Beyond the ISS, the GWC will soon have a new home in Starlab, the world’s first free-flying commercial space station, to be launched by Nanoracks in 2027. Starlab will provide access to global scientists, researchers, universities, and businesses to comprehensive research hardware and volume on orbit. The platform itself will be approximately 1/3 the size of today’s ISS, containing a near equivalent amount of volume for research and development efforts. The scientific endeavour of the space station will be managed within the scope of the GWC as the park’s new home develops over the next six years bringing together a strong base of services and applications.