Blood clotting in space: UCF video explains bone marrow cell experiment on the ISS
Megakaryocytes – the cells that produce platelets – have been grown on the ISS for the first time. A University of Central Florida video explains why this matters for long missions.
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Video: YouTube · University of Central Florida · youtube.com
Physicians at the University of Central Florida (UCF) are studying how spaceflight changes blood clotting. The focus is on megakaryocytes – large bone marrow cells that release thousands of platelets. In the series "Research in 60 Seconds", aerospace medicine researcher Hansjorg Schwertz explains the work; the university published the story on 26 October and the video the following day.
The experiment is part of the NASA-funded MOON study (Megakaryocytes Orbiting in Outer Space and Near Earth), which also involves researchers from the University of Utah. In May 2026, human cells flew to the International Space Station on a SpaceX resupply mission, where astronauts cultured them. The cells are stained with a fluorescent dye so that the team can follow their development remotely. "Our experiment was the first to grow megakaryocytes on the International Space Station," says Schwertz.
Background: in space, astronauts experience changes in blood clotting and immune regulation. According to Schwertz, one of the more sobering possibilities is an increased risk of blood clots on long missions. The university does not yet report any results; the team plans to compare the cells grown in orbit with blood samples taken from crew members before and after flight.