Designed for minimal human oversight, ELVIS features automated components for continuous data collection throughout the mission.

A groundbreaking holographic imaging device named ELVIS, or Extant Life Volumetric Imaging System, has been sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to enhance life detection studies in space.

Developed through a collaboration between Portland State University and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ELVIS utilizes innovative holographic technology to provide advanced three-dimensional imaging of microorganisms and cells.

The first experiment with ELVIS is set to begin on May 2, 2025, with each session expected to last approximately five to six hours.

Jay Nadeau, the principal investigator, stated that the mission's primary goal is to ensure the instrument can withstand the conditions of space travel while conducting scientific experiments.

The ELVIS project was initiated in 2014, aiming to create a microscope suitable for extreme environments, with support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

The mission is expected to conclude around July 2025, with hopes for future opportunities to expand the project with more sophisticated experiments.

This research aims to enhance our understanding of how life persists in extreme environments on Earth and potentially on distant moons and planets, such as Europa and Enceladus.

Nadeau emphasized ELVIS's significance not only for space exploration but also for biomedical research on Earth.

ELVIS launched into orbit on April 21, 2025, and successfully docked at the ISS two days later.

The initial experiments will focus on two resilient Earth organisms: Euglena gracilis, a microalga, and Colwellia psychrerythraea, a cold-thriving bacterium, to study their behavior in the unique environment of space.

In total, twelve experiments are planned with ELVIS on the ISS, with the potential for up to fifteen, all concentrating on microbial behavior in microgravity.

The research team anticipates groundbreaking results that could redefine our understanding of life's resilience and adaptability in the cosmos.