ISS Lab Selected Eight Startups for Accelerator Cohort
The program provides funding and access to low Earth orbit to accelerate dual-use and space-based technologies.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Startups
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The ISS National Laboratory has selected eight startups for the second cohort of its Orbital Edge Accelerator. Participants receive funding and mentorship to develop projects for low Earth orbit, following an inaugural cohort that launched in 2025.
Why it matters
The lab launched the program to facilitate technological advancement in space by connecting early-stage companies with research infrastructure. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between commercial research goals and the operational requirements of orbital environments.
The eight selected companies will receive funding in two equal installments, with at least one participant eligible for a Technology in Space Prize worth up to $100,000. These startups are categorized into two tracks focused on satellite technology and nanomedicine or biomanufacturing.
The players
ISS National Laboratory
A research organization managing the U.S. segment of the International Space Station to advance science and technology.
Draper Associates
A venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology investments and acting as a partner in the accelerator program.
Draper University
An entrepreneurial training institution that provides educational resources to the cohort.
The details
The accelerator provides participants with business development training, mentorship, and engagement with investors alongside access to the International Space Station for technology testing. The program is divided into the Sentinel Track, which focuses on satellite development, and the Disrupt Track, which targets nanomedicine—the science of designing drugs at a molecular scale—and biomanufacturing platforms. Selected teams will refine their research for potential flight missions and physical deployment in low Earth orbit.
Timeline
2025: The Orbital Edge Accelerator launched with an inaugural cohort of six startups.
September 2025: The Trump administration issued a memorandum detailing R&D priorities.
2026: The program selected eight startups for its second cohort.
December 2026: Participating startups are scheduled to present projects at a demo day in San Francisco.
2028: This year marks the target date to return Americans to the moon.
The Tech Race
The Orbital Edge Accelerator scales a model established by the 2025 cohort to expand commercial participation in the U.S. orbital research ecosystem. It follows the federal government's 2025 R&D priorities, which increasingly emphasize private sector integration into space infrastructure.
This program primarily affects the commercial aerospace and biotechnology industries by providing a pathway to orbital testing for early-stage hardware and medical platforms. While direct consumer impact remains distant, the progress of these startups will determine future innovations in satellite capabilities and pharmaceutical development.
The takeaway
The Orbital Edge Accelerator signifies an increasing institutional effort to move private-sector R&D from the lab bench to orbital platforms. Observers should track the December 2026 demo day for updates on which specific projects receive the flight qualification necessary to reach low Earth orbit.
What happens next
The cohort members will present their planned spaceflight projects at a demo day scheduled in San Francisco for December 2026.
Further reading
For broader trends in private sector space development, see our Startups section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Research & Development World.
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