ISS National Lab Opens 2026 Orbital Edge Accelerator with Up to $750K for Space-Tech Founders
SHERIDAN, WYOMING - April 14, 2026 - The ISS National Laboratory has opened applications for its 2026 Orbital Edge Accelerator, a structured startup program that combines private capital with direct access to low Earth orbit research infrastructure aboard the International Space Station. The program offers participating founders $500,000 to $750,000 in private capital alongside mentorship from investors and industry leaders. It marks the organization's latest move to position LEO as an active commercial and industrial domain, building on a record-breaking year for ISS-based scientific output reported in January 2026.