| Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications | FY 1996 | FY 1997 | FY 1998 |
| Life sciences | |||
| Research and analysis | 55,200 | 58,000 | 50,000 |
| [Construction of facilities] | -- | -- | [2,000] |
| Flight program | 54,400 | 39,400 | 35,500 |
| Subtotal | 109,600 | 97,400 | 85,500 |
| Microgravity science research | |||
| Research and analysis | 30,200 | 31,900 | 36,500 |
| Flight program | 76,300 | 73,400 | 64,900 |
| Subtotal | 106,500 | 105,300 | 101,400 |
| Space product development | 26,500 | 13,000 | 12,900 |
| Space shuttle/spacelab payload mission management and integration | 53,600 | 24,200 | 6,900 |
| Aerospace medicine/occupational health | 8,000 | 3,800 | 7,500 |
| Total | 304,200 | 243,700 | 214,200 |
| Distribution of Program Amount by Installation | FY 1996 | FY 1997 | FY 1998 |
| Johnson Space Center | 72,900 | 38,100 | 37,700 |
| Kennedy Space Center | 11,200 | 7,200 | 6,400 |
| Marshall Space Flight Center | 67,300 | 49,000 | 45,800 |
| Ames Research Center | 28,900 | 26,300 | 21,500 |
| Langley Research Center | 4,100 | 2,700 | 2,400 |
| Lewis Research Center | 53,300 | 41,000 | 37,700 |
| Goddard Space Flight Center | 1,300 | 22,200 | 27,800 |
| Jet Propulsion Laboratory | 13,600 | 16,700 | 13,800 |
| Headquarters | 51,600 | 40,500 | 21,100 |
| Total | 304,200 | 243,700 | 214,200 |
PROGRAM GOALS
The NASA Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications (LMSA)
program leads the nation's efforts in space biological, physical
and chemical research and aerospace medicine, supporting technology
development, and applications using the attributes of the space
environment to advance knowledge, to improve the quality of life
on Earth, and to strengthen the foundations for continuing the
exploration and development of space. LMSA activities are supportive
of, and closely aligned to, the goals of the Human Exploration
and Development of Space (HEDS) Enterprise. Those goals include:
1) increase human knowledge of Nature's processes using the space
environment; 2) explore and settle the Solar System; 3) achieve
routine space travel; and 4) enrich life on Earth through people
living and working in Space.
Current performance measures for LMSA include number of principal
investigators supported, number of research proposals received
and number of major journal publications. After extensive internal
discussions, and with significant input from the NASA Advisory
Council, LMSA has identified the following major categories of
metrics from which will be developed more specific metrics, data
and tracking methods. Future metrics will include the number of
peer-reviewed flight investigations completed successfully in
proportion to those planned for completion, results from ground-based
research grants published in peer-reviewed journals, technologies
to improve self-sufficiency of life support systems, and the percent
of countermeasures developed versus those which are accepted for
operational use.
The LMSA program has adopted the Lead Center management approach
and is rapidly moving to implement the Lead Center concept through
five major programs. The Johnson Space Center (JSC) will become
the Lead Center for two programs; Advanced Human Support Technologies
Program and the Biomedical Research Program. The Ames Research
Center (ARC) will be the Lead Center for the Gravitational Biology
Program. The Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) will take Lead
Center responsibility for two programs; Microgravity Research
and Space Product Development. Johnson Space Center has also been
designated the Lead Center for all Space Station activities and
is responsible for the cost, schedule and technical performance
of the total program, including the LMSA portions of the overall
program.
The science components of the Space Station program -- the NASA-Mir
Research Program, and Space Station Facilities and Utilization
-- are now under the management of the International Space Station
program. The funding and budget justification for these activities
is now included under the International Space Station (ISS) budget
justification.
The Research and Analysis activities within the LMSA program support
ground-based research and definition studies upon which flight
experiments are based. The flight programs in LMSA develop experiments
to fly on suborbital rockets, parabolic aircraft, and orbiting
spacecraft such as the Space Shuttle, the Mir Space Station and
the International Space Station (ISS). Strategic direction, budget
development, and advocacy, liaison and outreach for all of these
experiments, as well as for additional attached Space Shuttle
payloads developed by other NASA organizations, is conducted through
NASA Headquarters. LMSA also develops the research requirements
for the Space Station Research Program. LMSA is also responsible
for maintaining the health and productivity of astronauts and
developing requirements for medical operations and research.
The Life Sciences Research and Analysis program supports ground-based
research and definition studies in six major areas; (1) Space
Physiology and Countermeasures, (2) Space Human Factors Engineering,
(3) Environmental Health, (4) Space Radiation Health, (5) Advanced
Life Support, and (6) Space Biology. The Research and Analysis
program also includes data archiving, laboratories, NASA Specialized
Centers of Research and Training (NSCORTs), and joint activities
with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National
Science Foundation (NSF). Ground-based research relies on such
unique gravitational simulation facilities such as centrifuges.
The Life Sciences Flight program, consists of the Flight Experiments
Program, the NASA/Mir Research Program (NMRP), the Space Station
Science Utilization Program and other international cooperative
efforts. The flight experiments program selects, defines, develops
and conducts in-space medical and biological research, and tests
advanced life support and extravehicular technologies. It works
closely with the scientific community to develop a broad variety
of multi-user research facilities designed to support the life
sciences community's needs of the future.
The Microgravity Research and Analysis program supports ground-based
research and definition studies for flight experiment candidates
in five primary areas: (1) Biotechnology, (2) Combustion Science,
(3) Fluid Physics and Transport Phenomena, 4) Fundamental Physics,
and 5) Materials Science. Ground-based research facilities include
laboratories, drop-tubes, and drop towers.
The Microgravity Flight program, consisting of the Flight Experiments
Program, the NASA/Mir Research Program (NMRP) and the Space Station
Science Utilization Program, provides a wide range of experimental
capabilities. The flight program supports a broad variety of hardware
experiments including both unique scientific experiments as well
as multi-user research facilities. These flight experiments will
serve as the cornerstone of microgravity and applications research
in the future. Experiments are principally flown utilizing sounding
rockets, parabolic aircraft, the Space Shuttle, the Mir Space
Station, and/or other commercially-developed spacecraft.
The Space Shuttle/Spacelab Mission Management and Integration
program performs the mission planning, integration and execution
of all NASA/Spacelab, the NASA-Mir Research Program (NMRP) and
attached Space Shuttle payloads. The program integrates the scientific
payloads into the various carriers, trains payload specialists,
and performs system management and engineering development of
flight equipment and software.
The Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Health program is responsible
for development of policies and requirements to maintain and provide
medical support to optimize the health, safety and productivity
of our astronauts in space, and to protect and promote the health
and safety of all NASA employees. The program also develops technologies
and applications including telemedicine and global health applications.
The Space Product Development program is now reflected in the
LMSA program amounts. This program's budget was previously justified
under the Space Access & Technology program. The Space Product
Development program facilitates the use of space for commercial
products and services through the creation of Commercial Space
Centers and industry partnerships that provide expertise and access
to NASA experiment facilities as well as access to space.
A review of the financial status of the LMSA program at the end
of FY 1996 revealed that significant unobligated and uncosted
balances existed within the program. These balances were found
to have been built up over the last few years, and resulted for
a variety of reasons. The existence of these balances has allowed
the program to transfer FY 1996 and FY 1997 funding to Space Station
development activities, as detailed in the revisions to these
respective operating plans and the "FY 1997 Changes"
section of this budget justification, as well as refocus some
baseline research activities as described in the following budget
justification. We expect these balances to be within agency thresholds,
now under development, for this type of research program by the
end of FY 1997.
| BASIS OF FY 1998 FUNDING REQUIREMENT (Thousands of Dollars) | FY 1996 | FY 1997 | FY 1998 |
| Life sciences research and analysis | 55,200 | 58,000 | 50,000 |
| [Construction of facilities] | -- | -- | [2,000] |
PROGRAM GOALS
The Life Sciences Research and Analysis (R&A) program sponsors
basic and applied research in biomedicine, biology, environmental
science, and related technologies in support of the Agency's strategic
goals. The program goals are: 1) to effectively utilize gravity,
microgravity and other characteristics of the space environment
to enhance our understanding of fundamental biological processes;
2) to develop the scientific and technological foundations for
a safe, productive human presence in space for extended periods
of time; and 3) to apply this knowledge and technology to improve
our Nation's competitiveness, education, and the quality of life
on Earth.
The Life Sciences Research and Analysis program supports applied
research as well as basic research. Its basic research activities
use the unique weightless environment of space as a tool to learn
about basic structures and functions of humans, other animals,
and plants. Its applied research activities enable the development
of procedures or countermeasures to prevent the undesirable effects
of space flight on humans. Life Sciences Research and Analysis
pursues its goals through ground-based research programs and projects
at universities, NASA Centers, nonprofit and industrial organizations,
and other Federal agencies. It also finances specialized support
facilities and technologies in support of the science community.
The Life Sciences Research and Analysis budget supports ground-based
research in the following three programs: (1) biomedical research
and countermeasures; (2) gravitational biology; and (3) advanced
human support technology. The biomedical research and countermeasures
program includes physiology, environmental health, radiation health,
and behavior and performance. The gravitational biology program
includes cell and molecular biology, developmental biology, and
comparative and plant biology. The advanced human support technology
program consists of advanced life support, advanced extravehicular
activity systems, advanced environmental monitoring and controls,
human factors engineering, and radiation shielding.
Research and Analysis also sponsors additional specialized activities
and services. Its advanced technology development activities respond
to the defined needs of the space life sciences ground-based and
flight programs. The life sciences education and outreach activity
informs the professional community about space life sciences findings
and activities, encourages students of all ages to consider careers
in space life sciences, and sponsors development programs aimed
at those already engaged in life sciences research careers.
All Research and Analysis investigations that the Life Sciences
Division sponsors are peer-reviewed. The program's research solicitations
and peer review program are administered from Headquarters, and
proposals submitted by NASA Field Center researchers are subjected
to the same rigorous competitive standards as those of extramural
researchers. Life Sciences' policies permit peer reviews of selected
proposals to be performed under cooperative arrangements with
the NIH.
STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS
The Life Sciences research and analysis program biomedical research
and countermeasures research that seeks to characterize and determine
the mechanisms of physiological changes in weightlessness, including
those that threaten to limit the duration of human space missions.
It also develops methods that allow humans to live and work in
microgravity, that optimize crew safety, well-being, and performance,
and that minimize the deleterious effects of returning to Earth's
gravity after spaceflight. It attempts to specify, measure, and
control spacecraft environments, and it develops standards and
countermeasures, where necessary, to optimize crew health, safety,
and productivity. The program develops monitoring techniques,
procedures, and standards for extended missions. It also seeks
to establish the scientific basis for protecting humans engaged
in the development and exploration of space from radiation hazards.
The program also seeks to improve understanding of the role of
gravity in biological processes by using a variety of gravitational
environments as research tools or by determining the combined
effects of gravity and other environmental factors on biological
systems. The program emphasizes research in cell and molecular
biology, developmental biology, and comparative and plant biology.
Its research includes plants, animals, or other organisms as subjects,
as well as cell or tissue cultures.
Additionally, the research and analysis program develops advanced
regenerative life support technologies and systems by combining
biological, physical, and chemical processes capable of producing
and recycling the food, air, and water needed to support long-term
human missions in space in a safe and reliable manner while minimizing
the need for resupply. Its projects and activities apply engineering
sciences to the design of technologies that support and control
physical-chemical and bioregenerative closed loop systems for
clean air and potable water. The program applies knowledge from
the life sciences to develop technologies for growing, harvesting,
and processing crop plants for flight crew consumption. The advanced
extravehicular activity (EVA) systems program develops new technologies
necessary to perform EVAs productively, safely, and efficiently
during future long-duration missions. EVA systems are defined
as the operational hardware and operational procedures that allow
safe, efficient, and productive crew activities in the proximity
of a planetary habitat, a spacecraft, or an orbiting station.
EVA hardware includes space suits, portable life support systems,
and items such as foot restraints, tools, work stations, and interfaces.
These items, along with operational procedures and protocols,
are candidates for advanced EVA systems technology development.
Space human factors pursues multiple objectives. It works to expand
knowledge of human psychological and physical capabilities and
limitations in space. It develops technologies that integrate
the human and system elements of space flight. It encourages mission
planners to use human factors research results and technology
developments to improve mission results and crew safety. The program
makes NASA technologies available to the private sector for Earth
applications.
The Advanced Technology Development (ATD) project sponsors multidisciplinary
technology development activities that enhance the capability,
reliability and quality of Life Sciences flight hardware. The
program solves technical problems that currently limit science
return from existing flight equipment. It enables new types of
scientific investigations in space; promotes technology transfer
of Life Sciences technology to industry; and establishes partnerships
with industry, universities, and other agencies.
Center Support
The Life Sciences Research and Analysis (R&A) program currently
manages its projects, activities, and tasks from Headquarters
and the Ames Research Center (ARC), the Johnson Space Center (JSC),
and the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The program is actively working
to implement the Lead Center program management approach and will
be formally assigning lead center responsibility to both JSC and
ARC. JSC will be the lead center for the Biomedical Research Program
and the Advanced Human Support Technologies Program. ARC will
be assigned responsibility for the Gravitational Biology Program.
The R & A program also draws upon other Centers on occasion
to administer tasks or for other unique expertise. Following the
program's adoption of revised peer review procedures during FY
1994, the Life Sciences program returned the responsibility for
grants peer review and selection for funding to Headquarters.
As a result, all proposals selected for funding, both those submitted
by extramural investigators as well as those from intramural researchers
at NASA Centers, must withstand a Headquarters-managed, competitive
selection process. Effective in FY 1997, grant awards made to
extramural investigators are being administered by the Goddard
Space Flight Center (GSFC), which is now providing grants administration
support to Headquarters science programs.
NIH Cooperation
Within Life Sciences, $10.0 million each year supports collaborative activities with the NIH, of which more than $5.0 million is supported under the Research and Analysis program. NASA/Life Sciences resources dedicated to joint NASA/NIH collaboration are likely to increase in future years, stimulated both by the success of past collaborative efforts and by the recommendations of the NASA/NIH Interagency Advisory Committee. A key collaborative venture between NASA and NIH is the Human Brain project, an activity which concentrates on neural science and informatics research. NASA and NIH will continue to provide mutual support to a NASA/NIH Specialized Center of Research and Technology (NSCORT) for Vestibular Research at Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago. A sampling of other collaborative research and technology projects that NASA Life Sciences has underway with NIH include several projects in cancer research, including a technology development task which aims to develop advanced digital mammography techniques. NASA and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are jointly supporting radiation biology research into the fundamental processes leading to cancer. This research will provide benefits for extended space flight and occupational health. NASA and NIH are working together on neurological and behavioral sciences research, developmental physiology and human development research, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic systems research, and the application of remote sensing satellites to predict and control human disease. The two agencies are supporting several activities designed to enhance the electronic information services available to life sciences researchers. For example, SPACELINE, an on-line bibliographic database of space life sciences developed in collaboration with the National Library of Medicine (NLM), recently became available for use.
Other Collaborative Activities
The objective of establishing a strong radiobiology program at
Loma Linda University Medical Center began during FY 1996 and
will continue during FY 1997. Congressional action provided $4.5
million of FY 1996 resources for this purpose, and follow-on Congressional
action has designated the application of an additional $4.0 million
from FY 1997 appropriations. During FY 1996, Life Sciences initiated
a cooperative agreement with the Loma Linda University that will
support up to 400 hours of proton beam time and core support for
proton research at Loma Linda University. The University is constructing
a building containing laboratory space dedicated to the radiobiology
program. In FY 1997, LMSA plans to initiate a cooperative effort
with the Cleveland Clinic in cardiac imagery activities. Definition
of this activity is underway.
Life Sciences also participates with other Federal agencies such
as the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Defense (DOD)
and a variety of other national and international organizations
whose research interests intersect those of the Research and Analysis
program. These organizations include the National Science Foundation,
the American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology (ASGSB),
the Aerospace Medical Association (AMA), and the American College
of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The program also reaches out to groups
whose members are underrepresented in the life sciences research
community, such as the Alaska Native Association (ANA).
MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE
| FY 1996 Plan | FY 1996 Actual | FY 1997 Plan | FY 1997 Revised | FY 1998 Plan | Description | |
| Number of Ground Principal Investigators | 224 | 210 | 232 | 200 | 200 | -- |
| Number of Co-Investigators supported (Ground-Based and Flight) | 291 | 300 | 302 | 290 | 290 | -- |
| Number of Refereed Publications (Ground-Based and Flight) | 540 | 540 | 600 | 525 | 525 | -- |
| Release Life Sciences NASA Research Announcements | 1st Qtr FY 1996 | 2nd Qtr FY 1996 | 1st Qtr FY 1997 | 2nd Qtr FY 1997 | 2nd Qtr FY 1998 | Ensure a steady source of peer-reviewed research and development tasks |
| Initiate 5-year performance period for new NSCORTS | 3rd Qtr FY 1996 | 3rd Qtr FY 1996 | 3rd Qtr FY 1997 | -- | -- | New NSCORTS in Gravitational Biology and Bioregenerative Life Support were selected in FY 1996. New Radiation Health NSCORT due for selection during third quarter FY 1997. |
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PLANS
The Research and Analysis program is taking steps to improve the
quality of its research selections and to increase the budgetary
resources that it makes available to research investigators. Forty-seven
research proposals selected in FY 1996 received multi-year research
awards valued at approximately $15 million through FY 1998. The
NASA/Life Sciences hopes to award a comparable number during FY
1997 and during FY 1998. All awards will derive from proposals
submitted in response to the NASA's competitive selection and
peer review procedures. Additionally, the FY 1997 and FY 1998
program activities will include increased activity in areas of
collaboration with other federal agencies and non-federal organizations,
notably in the area of radiation health. A number of Life Sciences'
collaborative and technology development activities have already
begun yielding benefits in ground-based applications and should
continue to do so through FY 1998.
During FY 1997 and FY 1998, the space physiology and countermeasures
activities will concentrate on the problems associated with extended
stays in space, especially stays of 90 days to 180 days, in preparation
for the ISS era. Studies may include human and animal subjects.
Budgetary resources will support both basic and applied research
on the effects of hypogravity and hypergravity. The project will
seek new techniques for the non-invasive, in-flight measurement
of the variables that characterize all systems. It will also address
the development of an optimal exercise protocol for space flight
to provide comprehensive countermeasures to the various physiological
and psychological systems, including cardiovascular, musculoskeletal,
neuromuscular function, fluid and electrolyte balance, and performance,
while minimizing demands on crew time.
During FY 1997 and FY 1998, the space biology efforts will maintain
focus on advancing fundamental knowledge in the biological sciences
using the tool of gravity and microgravity. Investigations, including
renewals and new awards, will concentrate on the areas of cell
biology, developmental biology, and comparative and plant biology.
Cell biology investigations will examine how gravitational information
is transduced, how cells respond to acute and long-term variations
in gravity, and how gravity affects the composition, size, shape,
and function of cells. Developmental biology investigations will
study the influence of gravity and microgravity on animal growth,
development, reproduction, genetic integrity, life span, senescence,
and subsequent generations of animals. Comparative and plant biology
will conduct research to understand how animals and plants perceive,
transduce, and respond to gravitational force. The investigations
will elucidate the role of hypergravity and microgravity in developmental
and reproductive processes and will seek to understand the role
of hypergravity and microgravity in such areas as the metabolism
and transport processes in animals and plants.
The environmental systems and technologies tasks will refocus
their ground-based activities during FY 1997 and FY 1998 toward
the development of technologies that will not only support specific
needs during the ISS era, but also addresses the strategic thrusts
of the Human Exploration and Development of Space Enterprise.
Life Sciences environmental systems and technologies programs
include the environmental health program, the radiation health
program, the space human factors program, the advanced life support
and advanced EVA programs, and the Advanced Technology Development
(ATD) program.
The environmental health activities will conduct research that
will help to establish space flight environmental standards for
human health and performance. The project will use FY 1997 and
FY 1998 resources to define physiological norms for atmospheric
gases, identify toxicants and describe microbial populations (including
their numbers, pathogenicity, or products). The program will emphasize
investigations of optimal nitrogen washout protocols, and it will
rely upon ground-based studies to anticipate the effects of closed
systems in space.
During FY 1997 and FY 1998, the radiation health project will
support ground-based experimental radiobiology studies using proton
and high-energy heavy ion beams. FY 1997 and FY 1998 resources
will support studies attempting to understand the mechanisms responsible
for radiation-caused carcinogenesis and the reliability of interspecies
extrapolation of radiobiological effects. The radiation health
program initiated a new collaborative venture with the National
Cancer Institute during FY 1996 that will continue during the
budget period. This new NASA/National Cancer Institute (NCI) collaborative
effort will provide up to $2.0 million per year of research funding
through FY 2000, with each agency contributing equally. The collaborative
project will attempt to define and understand the nature and extent
of long-term genomic instability in mammalian cells caused by
chronic low-dose radiation exposures of the kind likely to be
encountered during extended space flight and in certain occupational
settings. The radiation health project has also approved a series
of accelerator 'missions' at the Brookhaven National Laboratory,
using the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. These 'missions' will
take place during FY 1997 and FY 1998. The investigations at Brookhaven
will succeed a successful set of experiments completed during
FY 1995, and will require approximately 150 hours of beam time
each year to support the radiation health investigators funded
jointly with the NCI.
During FY 1997 and FY 1998, the space human factors project will
emphasize both research and technology development. The program
will conduct research to document human performance responses
to long-term space flight, including especially those that affect
the performance of safety-critical functions. This research will
attempt to understand the factors that influence space-based performance.
The program's research activities will use human-machine scenarios,
models, analogs, and other tools as aids in defining human habitability
requirements for space flight and in developing design and performance
requirements for equipment, procedures, operations and environments
in space and on the ground. The project will support the development
of new designs, technologies, and systems needed for space and
ground-based operations with particular emphasis on advanced displays
and controls, human-machine function allocation, interactions
among intelligent agents, and intravehicular activity and extravehicular
activity.
The primary emphasis of the advanced life support project during
FY 1997 and FY 1998 will be on technology areas that have clear
and compelling relevance to NASA during the ISS era and that will
enable the Human Exploration and Development of Space. The project
will demonstrate the feasibility of using higher plants to provide
air, water, and food for planetary surface life support systems,
demonstrate the maturity of physical/chemical recycling processes
for providing air and water for planetary life support systems
and complete the evaluation of continuous cropping of potato and
wheat, including the recycling of nutrients from inedible plant
biomass through aerobic bioreactors.
During FY 1996, JSC completed Phases I and II of the 'Early Human
Test Initiative,' a month-long test of four volunteer test subjects
in a closed-chamber demonstration of physical-chemical life support
system technologies. During FY 1997, NASA expects to conduct an
additional 60-day ground-based demonstration of regenerative life
support systems with four test subjects in a closed chamber, also
at JSC. At KSC, during FY 1996, a study was completed on the long-term
growth of potatoes as a potential food crop for life support systems
for planetary exploration and development. Of particular note
was a study on recycling plant biomass to supply the nutrients
required for plant growth.
To support the advanced life support project's primary emphasis
on large-scale bioregenerative validation and testing, the Research
and Analysis program budget request includes $2.0 million in FY
1998 to support the conversion of the Weightless Environment Training
Facility (WETF) at JSC for the proposed Bio-Regenerative Planetary
Life Support Systems Test Complex (Bio-Plex) in the rotunda and
east service wings of the WETF. Functions previously carried out
in the current WETF are being relocated to the new Sonny Carter
Training Facility, leaving most of the rotunda and east service
wings of Building 29 at JSC unoccupied. A facilities study performed
at JSC documented that facility modifications necessary to install
the new Bio-Plex in the rotunda and east service wing rather that
at the site of the existing Human-Rated Test Facility would yield
construction cost savings of $1.8 million.
During FY 1996, the advanced EVA systems project was restructured
in an effort to revalidate its programmatic objectives. This included
integrating all advanced EVA elements in the agency and transferring
program management to JSC. FY 1997 resources will support proposals
in the following areas: mission requirements definition; EVA human
factors; physiological and medical requirements; EVA task requirements;
systems studies; and EVA mission operations. Activities in this
project area, pending the outcome of revalidation activities,
will support such initiatives as the development of next generation
EVA systems technologies.
The primary emphasis of the advanced technology development (ATD)
project during FY 1997 will be on environmental sensors and biosensors.
The ATD project will concentrate in particular on developing new
technologies for air and water monitoring and microbial detection,
as well as refining and micro-miniaturizing currently available
sensors. The program will also support the development of advanced
implantable biotelemetry systems.
During FY 1997 and FY 1998, the data analysis project will maintain
its primary emphasis on extended data analysis and on enabling
the research community's access to data. Secondary emphasis will
be on the area of special data analysis techniques. NASA and NIH
collaborations have yielded particularly fruitful results in Life
Sciences' data analysis program, and the program will seek to
build upon these past successes. SPACELINE bibliographic database
capabilities will expand during the budget period, owing to the
continued support provided by the National Library of Medicine.
Enhancements will be made to the Life Sciences flight data archive,
introduced during FY 1996, and additional database products will
be developed in FY 1997 and FY 1998 for the benefit of the research
community during the era of the ISS.
During the past year, Life Sciences successfully recompeted NSCORTs
in gravitational biology, bioregenerative life support, and environmental
health. North Carolina State University in Raleigh received a
new NSCORT award for gravitational biology, and an additional
gravitational biology NSCORT was established at Rice University.
Wake Forest University will be a collaborating partner in the
North Carolina State University NSCORT, while the JSC will be
a collaborating partner with the new Rice University NSCORT. Rutgers
University received an NSCORT for bioregenerative life support,
and the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey
will be a collaborating partner. The new NSCORTs have received
five year awards that were initiated during the first half of
FY 1996. During FY 1997 Life Sciences expects to award an additional
NSCORT for radiation health. Site visits and selection for the
proposed radiation health NSCORT will take place during the first
and second quarters of FY 1997.
During FY 1996, NASA and the NCI continued their co-sponsorship
of applied research and development projects designed to lead
to new breast cancer digital imaging techniques. Deriving from
a long-standing agreement between NASA and the NCI, innovative
breast cancer imaging techniques that were recently selected from
a NASA/NCI competitive solicitation are expected to lead to highly
effective, low-cost diagnostic technologies. This collaborative
venture will continue in FY 1997 and FY 1998. The payoff from
this effort might be huge. Recent statistics show that 186,000
new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. alone in
1993. Health care costs associated with breast cancer in the U.S.
exceed $8 billion annually.
An active Research and Analysis-based outreach project is planned
for FY 1997 and FY 1998, including outreach activities designed
to attract Native Americans to careers in the space life sciences
and related engineering disciplines. Outreach programs for Native
Americans attempt to develop the telecommunications information
infrastructure of Tribal educational organizations. Life Sciences
initiated a Native American Earth and Space Academy (NAESA) during
FY 1996, and began work on providing Internet connectivity to
the Navajo Community College and the Headquarters of the Cherokee
Nation of Oklahoma's Sequoyah High School. Finally, Native American
outreach programs will team with the Air Force Office of Scientific
Research to support the Navajo Community College Telecommunications
Infrastructure Development program during FY 1997, along with
the planning for the All Indian Nations Forum on Telecommunications.
The Research and Analysis program will continue to encourage extramural investigators to take advantage of NASA-unique facilities to support research objectives. The program will use FY 1997 and FY 1998 budgetary resources to increase extramural access to the Biocomputation Center, the Vestibular Research Facility and other radial acceleration facilities at the ARC, along with the KC-135 flight program and other biomedical facilities at the JSC.
| BASIS OF FY 1998 FUNDING REQUIREMENT (Thousands of Dollars) | FY 1996 | FY 1997 | FY 1998 |
| Life sciences flight experiments program | 54,400 | 39,400 | 35,500 |
PROGRAM GOALS
The Life Sciences Flight Experiments program systematically manages
and supports investigations with living systems that require access
to the unique characteristics of low-Earth orbit. The program
secures timely space flight opportunities for the space investigations
it sponsors. The science supported by the program uses microgravity
and the other characteristics of the space environment to enhance
understanding of fundamental biological processes. In addition,
the program's flight research and technology development work
provides the scientific and technological foundations for a safe,
productive human presence in space for extended periods.
STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS
The Life Sciences Flight Experiments program strives to select
and develop the highest-quality research and technology. The program
solicits a steady stream of new research and technology investigations,
manages and supports them during pre-flight definition, development,
and through post-flight activities. The program relies upon peer
reviews to determine which science research and technology to
endorse. Its peer review process in recent years has become a
cooperative enterprise with the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). Cooperative enterprises such as those with the NIH and
other external partners ensure that flight opportunities are provided
to the highest-ranked, peer-reviewed research and technology projects.
The Life Sciences Flight Experiments program provides a balanced
and robust series of flight opportunities which include human-assisted
or human-subject flight opportunities aboard the Space Shuttle
as well as research opportunities aboard unmanned vehicles. The
program uses Spacelabs that fly in the Space Shuttle cargo bay
as well as the Space Shuttle middeck for small payloads. As the
nation approaches the era of the ISS, the Life Sciences Flight
Experiments program is taking advantage of longer-duration flight
opportunities aboard the Mir space station. The NASA/Mir Research
program (NMRP) investigations will enable the Life Sciences Flight
Experiments program to conduct research, develop technologies,
and help mitigate the risks of long-duration space flight. In
the ISS era, crews will remain on orbit for as long as 180 days
at a time; the Life Sciences Flight Experiments program will provide
enabling technologies to take maximum advantage of this long-duration
opportunity.
The Life Sciences Flight Experiments program develops and supports
investigations in the areas of biology, physiology, environmental
health, and behavior and performance for Spacelab flight opportunities.
The program's budgetary resources enable necessary pre-flight
planning, development, and support for selected investigations.
Program resources provide for post-flight services and appropriate
data analysis and distribution, including the development of specialized
databases and archiving services to ensure that flight research
findings and results are widely available to the research community.
In FY 1996, Life Sciences participated in the Life and Microgravity
Spacelab (LMS) mission. The last scheduled life sciences Spacelab
flight is Neurolab, scheduled for the second quarter of FY 1998.
The Neurolab mission will conduct basic research in sensory-motor,
vestibular function, spatial orientation, developmental biology,
nervous system plasticity, autonomic nervous system control of
the cardiovascular system, sleep and circadian rhythms, and human
behavior.
The Life Sciences Flight Experiments program also relies upon
Space Shuttle small payload opportunities to supplement flight
opportunities that Spacelab provides. The objectives of small
payload flights are to provide scientists and researchers with
opportunities to fly their research quickly and economically,
via the Space Shuttle middeck. The science conducted may be in
plant biology, space physiology and countermeasures, developmental
biology, cellular research, human factors, and performance disciplines.
Most of the research uses existing flight hardware. Small payload
opportunities demonstrate hardware performance or develop research
techniques for the Spacelab, the NMRP, and the Space Station.
NASA anticipates that, once the Space Station becomes operational,
small payload-class investigations will migrate to the Space Station's
EXPRESS rack program.
In cooperation with the Russian Space Agency (RSA) the Life Sciences
Flight Experiments program conducts biological experiments with
non-human primates on unmanned biosatellites. The Bion spacecraft
series of biosatellites flies biological and radiation measurement
experiments in near-Earth orbit. Since 1973 the Russian Federation
(formerly the U.S.S.R.) has launched eleven biosatellites; the
U.S. has participated in the last nine missions and is scheduled
to participate in the upcoming Bion 12 mission. The major objectives
of the Bion investigations are to study the biological effects
of microgravity and radiation on living systems; to evaluate living
systems' adaptation to microgravity and other characteristics
of space; and to evaluate the fundamental characteristics of living
systems, using gravity as a variable. Bion missions with primates
last up to fourteen days.
Contractor and Center Support
The participating Field Centers in life sciences' flight research
activities and programs include the Johnson Space Center (JSC),
which leads the development and support of life sciences investigations
in the areas of space physiology, environmental and human factors,
and advanced life support. The Ames Research Center (ARC) leads
the development of space biology research investigations and plays
the primary life sciences role in the development of primate investigations
scheduled for launch aboard biosatellite missions. Both of these
NASA Centers participate in Spacelab flights, small payloads,
NMRP, and the Space Station. The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) manages
life sciences payload integration, provides pre- and post-flight
support, manages advanced life support facilities and demonstrations,
and manages small payload investigations, especially those using
plants.
International & Domestic Cooperation
The Life Sciences Flight Experiments program seeks opportunities
to enhance its science research and technology development activities
by promoting cooperative activities with researchers and research
organizations. Life Sciences' collaborative activities with non-NASA
entities include foreign partners participating in the ISS program,
as part of the effort to build and enhance working relationships
in preparation for the Space Station era. NASA and the ESA, for
example, will both fly investigations on the ESA-built Biorack
during the NMRP. On the LMS mission, the new Department of Defense-built
cell culturing system was flown. On the same flight, the Torque
Velocity Dynamometer developed by ESA was flown for the first
time to conduct musculoskeletal and combined musculoskeletal and
neurophysiological experiments. On the Neurolab mission, 10 of
32 investigators selected for development are international; investigators
from Germany, Japan, Italy, France, and the Netherlands are participating.
ESA (Europe), NASDA (Japan), CNES (France), DARA (Germany), and
CSA (Canada) are developing Neurolab flight hardware. Domestic
Neurolab participation will come from NIH, which is playing a
leading role in Neurolab science management and development, the
National Science Foundation, and the Office of Naval Research.
International and domestic partners also play vital roles in the
Life Sciences Flight Experiments program's small payloads program.
The French, Russian, German, Ukrainian, and Canadian Space Agencies
represent about 25% of the annual small payloads investigator
population. The small payloads program uses flight hardware provided
by other federal agencies, such as the Walter Reed Army Institute
for Research, along with hardware from Canada and Germany.
MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE
| FY 1996 Plan | FY 1996 Actual | FY 1997 Plan | FY 1997 Revised | FY 1998 Plan | |
| Number of Flight Principal Investigators | 148 | 167 | 134 | 164 | 138 |
| Number of Investigators Flown | 63 | 63 | 43 | 62 | 60 |
| Performance Milestone | Plan | Actual/Revised | Description/Status |
| The LMS Spacelab mission flew on STS-78 | 3rd Qtr FY 1996 | 3rd Qtr FY 1996 | The LMS flight supported the non-Rhesus science that had been scheduled to fly on the SLS-3 mission. The mission supported musculoskeletal and behavior and performance investigations to build on the research results of the successful SLS-1 and SLS-2 missions. |
| The Neurolab mission will fly on STS-90 | 2nd Qtr FY 1998 | -- | The Neurolab science payload focuses on the effects of weightlessness and other aspects of the space environment on developmental and cellular neurobiology, vestibular function, spatial orientation and visuo-motor performance, autonomic nervous system regulation, sleep and circadian rhythms, and learning and behavior. |
| The U.S. will share 50% of the science from the Bion 11 and Bion 12 mission | -- | -- | Bion 11 and Bion 12 will accommodate the Rhesus investigations that had been scheduled to fly on SLS-3. The Bion 11 and Bion 12 investigators will conduct musculoskeletal, neurosensory, immunology and regulatory physiology investigations |
| Bion 11 | 1st Qtr FY 1997 | 1st Qtr FY 1997 | -- |
| Bion 12 | 1st Qtr FY 1999 | -- | -- |
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PLANS
During FY 1996, a major emphasis of the Flight Experiments program
was the support of the LMS mission. LMS flew on STS-78, launched
in June 1996. The LMS mission provided for sixteen integrated
Life Sciences experiments (including small payload investigations)
in the musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, metabolic, behavior and
performance, neuroscience, and space biology research disciplines.
Of the sixteen, nine were U.S. biomedical research and three were
U.S. space biology. Four were sponsored by international agencies.
LMS post-flight data analysis will be conducted during FY 1997.
These data will be compared with data from the ground-based science
study performed the previous year and with certain experiments
on Bion 11.
The LMS mission is also noteworthy for the range of collaborative
arrangements that improved science and minimized costs. ESA's
Torque Velocity Dynamometer, ESA's Hand-Grip Dynamometer, the
Canadian Space Agency's Torso Rotational Experiment, and the French
Space Agency's Canal and Otolith Interaction Studies flew on the
LMS mission. The crew of the LMS mission included two international
payload specialists, one from Canada and one from France. Their
backups were from Italy and Spain. Remote payload operations successfully
tested concepts that Life Sciences expects to apply on the ISS.
The Life Sciences Flight Experiments program continued Neurolab
science planning and mission development activities during FY
1996, and the program continues on target for an FY 1998 flight
aboard STS-90. The Neurolab mission is a key collaborative venture
between NASA and other domestic Federal science agencies during
the "Decade of the Brain." The NIH, the NSF, and the
Office of Naval Research are providing funding to seventeen of
the twenty-two domestic investigations that Life Sciences is now
supporting for Neurolab flight development. A total of thirty-two
investigations have been selected for Neurolab development, ten
of which are being funded by NASA's international partners.
The Neurolab science payload focuses on the effects of weightlessness
and other aspects of the space environment on developmental and
cellular neurobiology, vestibular function, spatial orientation
and visuo-motor performance, autonomic nervous system regulation,
sleep and circadian rhythms, and learning and behavior. Human
studies of the crew and animal studies of species housed in specialized
facilities will be carried out. Six of Neurolab's thirty-two Life
Sciences investigations do not require the full laboratory resources
of a Spacelab flight and will instead be carried out as small
payload experiments.
Four Neurolab payload specialist candidates were selected from
twenty-five nominees and began their training during FY 1996.
Two of these will be selected as payload specialists during FY
1997 and the other two will serve as alternates. Two mission specialists
were assigned to the crew during FY 1996 and began training. During
FY 1996, ARC and JSC carried out critical design reviews and ground-based
flight simulation control studies. Final selection of Neurolab
flight experiments will occur during FY 1997, one year prior to
flight. Integrated design reviews of experimental hardware for
the final stages of hardware development prior to integration
and flight will take place during FY 1997.
During FY 1996, the Life Sciences Flight Experiments program flew
eleven small payload investigations in musculoskeletal physiology,
plant biology, and developmental biology. The NIH/Cells series
of investigations continued during FY 1996 with the flights of
NIH/Cells-5 and NIH/Cells-7. The program also participated in
the NIH/Rodent-3 mission, which was a verification flight for
Neurolab. The Aquatic Research Facility, belonging to the Canadian
Space Agency, was flown in addition to two plant biology experiments,
for a total of six FY 1996 small payload middeck opportunities.
FY 1997 and 1998 resources will continue to provide for an active
life sciences small payloads program. FY 1997 resources will support
the continuation of the NIH/Cells and NIH/Rodent series of investigations
(using rodents, cells, and plants) along with additional life
sciences small payload investigations and data analysis, for a
total of six FY 1997 small payloads investigations. FY 1998 will
begin with the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment (CUE), which
is a plant payload. CUE involves five U.S. Principal Investigators
and seven Ukrainian Principal Investigators sponsored by the National
Space Agency of Ukraine. A Ukrainian Payload Specialist has been
selected to perform all in-flight operations.
Bion Program
FY 1997 resources are providing for completion of the development,
testing, and delivery of flight hardware to Russia in support
of the December 1996 launch of the Bion 11 biosatellite mission.
The mission has flown some of the primate experiments from the
canceled SLS-3 Spacelab mission. It is designed to expand our
understanding and knowledge of a variety of biomedical problems
in humans. It will be used to investigate the effects of weightlessness
on bone, muscle, and neuromuscular structure and function, sensory-motor
function, behavior, circadian rhythms, fluid and electrolyte balance,
and immunology. In January 1996, the Life Sciences program exercised
the option to fly the Bion 12, a mission identical to Bion 11,
which will fly during the first quarter of FY 1999, thereby completing
the SLS-3 primate studies.
| BASIS OF FY 1998 FUNDING REQUIREMENT (Thousands of Dollars) | FY 1996 | FY 1997 | FY 1998 |
| Microgravity research and analysis | 30,200 | 31,900 | 36,500 |
PROGRAM GOALS
The Microgravity Research and Analysis (R&A) program seeks
to understand basic physical phenomena and processes, quantify
effects and overcome limitations imposed by gravity on the observation
and evaluation of selected phenomena and processes; develop technologies
related to the requirements of the research; and expand, centralize
and disseminate the research data base as widely as possible to
the U.S. research and technology community. The primary goal of
the R&A program is to mature the research of a large number
of laboratory scientists into coherent groups of flight experiments
for the Space Station and research other opportunities. The R&A
program is designed to establish the intellectual underpinning
of the flight program. In order to do this, a multi-disciplined
research program has been established in the areas of biotechnology,
combustion science, fluid physics and transport phenomena, fundamental
physics, and materials science. Ground-based experiments, coupled
with experiments selected for flight definition, comprise a compelling
and coherent strategy for utilization of the space environment.
STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS
The Microgravity Science and Applications mission to develop and
utilize the scientific potential of space, ground-based research
serves two purposes: to find and refine concepts for space experiments,
and to create a framework of knowledge and expertise in which
the full scientific value of space experiments can be realized.
The R&A program, through its support of ground-based research,
provides the genesis from which strong, well-defined flight experiments
emerge. The strategy NASA has devised for achieving excellence
in microgravity research is to utilize the nation's academic and
industrial resources, joining prominent researchers with NASA
expertise in multidisciplinary microgravity experimentation. The
mechanism to engage national scientific resources is the release
of NASA Research Announcements (NRAs), solicitations directed
to research disciplines, inviting proposals for research and flight
experiment concepts. Proposals are selected by peer panels of
technical experts on the basis of scientific and technical merit
and need for the microgravity environment. By soliciting for research
across a discipline, rather than for specific missions, NASA allows
easier entry into the microgravity program for researchers with
strong merits but limited experience with the space program. Approximately
80% of the R&A budget funds research grants and contracts
which are awarded through competitive peer review, with over 90%
of this funding going to external investigators across the United
States. The remaining 10% is used at NASA field centers to provide
supporting infrastructure. NASA set out at the beginning of the
1990's with the goal of building a research program that seeks
to exploit the microgravity environment possible through space
flight, engaging the talent and energy of the nation's scientists
and engineers to develop the potential of space for research in
physical, chemical, and biological processes. Having established
a strong foundation for this effort through a series of highly-successful
research solicitations, NASA is working with the science and engineering
community to define and build a dynamic, coherent research program.
Since the inception of the R&A program in 1989, 14 NRA's covering
five disciplines have been released, and over 2500 proposals have
been received. Approximately 300 Principal Investigators are now
in the peer-reviewed Research and Analysis ground-based program.
The five science disciplines which comprise the Microgravity R&A
program are biotechnology, combustion science, fluid physics and
transport phenomena, fundamental physics, and materials science.
The biotechnology project focuses on protein crystal growth, cell
sciences, and fundamentals of biotechnology as areas which offer
promising opportunities for significant advancements through low-gravity
experiments. Experiments in space have demonstrated that gravity
influences protein crystal growth and that reduced gravity can
result in improved crystal characteristics. Improved data from
protein crystals will allow scientists to better understand protein
structures, a critical element of structural biology and rational
drug development. Cell science technology explores the cellular
response to low stress environments in a technology central to
contemporary biomedical research. Growing normal and cancerous
mammalian tissues is a technology with enormous medical benefits
and applications. Fundamentals of biotechnology is an area of
exploratory research in new directions such as transport of material
across membranes. Information from this research may be significant
in improving the efficiency of rational drug design.
The combustion science project focuses on combustion, which is
responsible for producing 85% of the world's energy as well as
a significant fraction of atmospheric pollution. Pollution is
a continuing hazard to life and property on Earth and in space.
Combustion reactions release heat. Under gravity's influence,
heat release during combustion causes a convective flow as the
heated gas rises. By reducing this flow in a low gravity environment,
important problems such as soot formation in flames, the spreading
of fires, the burning of hydrocarbons and limits of flammability
can be studied in very fundamental ways. The applications of this
research to fire safety and control are becoming significant.
The fluid physics and transport phenomena project studies the
properties and motions of liquids and gases, providing a conceptual
framework in which to understand the role of gravity in physical
and chemical processes. The program also provides a foundation
for advances in technologies required for exploration and development
of space, such as regenerative life support systems, utilization
of local resources, propulsion systems, power generation, cryogenic
and fluid management. Scientists study how fluids flow under different
conditions, how energy affects fluid flows, and many other important
scientific and practical issues. Investigators seek the ability
to make accurate predictions of how heat and mass are transported
in mixtures of fluids and vapor, with profound implications for
production and control processes on Earth and in future space
engineering applications.
The fundamental physics project includes the study of critical
phenomena, low-temperature physics and other phenomena for which
the space environment can make possible measurement of physical
constants with levels of accuracy that challenge the contemporary
theories in physics. Reduction and control of the forces due to
gravity allow investigations to probe into the depths of physical
variables to levels that allow the verification of universal theories
which can then be used in a great many fields of physics with
much greater confidence. This part of the microgravity program
addresses science and technology issues on the forefront of physics
research and includes research topics at the frontier of our knowledge.
The materials science project examines the relationship between
processing, structure and properties, and strives to acquire the
basic knowledge required to develop new generations of high performance
materials in areas including electronic and photonic materials,
glasses and ceramics, metals and alloys, and polymers and nonlinear
optical materials. Materials can be divided into crystalline (a
certain long range order on the atomic scale) and non-crystalline
or amorphous (no long range order). The properties of a material
are largely determined by the structure of the material, and are
greatly influenced by the process used in forming the material.
Gravity-driven phenomena can play a huge role in this triangle
of properties/processing/structure. Utilization of the low gravity
environment to give insight into materials and materials processing
may result in improvements to production methods and materials
on Earth. The materials science research program provides the
baseline for comparison with future microgravity research and
identifies the deficiencies in our knowledge of materials behavior
on Earth.
Collaborative Activities
Through collaboration with domestic and international science
communities, the R&A program has sought to obtain concrete
as well as synergistic investments by other participants. NASA
has joined with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to obtain
laboratory space, diagnostic equipment, and skilled researchers
to accelerate the transfer of NASA-developed bioreactor technologies
to the broader science community. Through joint cooperative agreements
with private industry, NASA has acquired market-valued protein
derivatives and diagnostic equipment which support both industrial
and government sponsored research in areas of protein crystal
growth. Letters of agreement with Japan and Canada have improved
the research facilities available to United States ground-based
principal investigators. The Japanese have made their highly sophisticated
10-second drop tower facilities available to a broad range of
United States combustion science investigators. This facility
extends the capability of the 5-second drop tube in the U.S. The
Canadian Space Agency has developed and offered to the United
States a large vibration isolation mount that can be used in United
States parabolic aircraft to provide an improved lower gravity
environment on the aircraft which is an integral part of the ground-based
research program.
Center and Contractor Support
Consistent with NASA's field Center mission assignments, Marshall
Space Flight Center (MSFC) is the Microgravity Research Program
lead center and also a center of excellence for the materials
science and biotechnology portions of the program. The Johnson
Space Center (JSC) contributes to the biotechnology research program
by conducting research in the cell culturing area. The Lewis Research
Center (LeRC) is the center of excellence for combustion science
and fluid physics and transport phenomena disciplines. The Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a center of excellence and is responsible
for the fundamental physics portion of the program. Contractors
are utilized for science support at the Centers and are responsible
for understanding and monitoring certain investigators' science.
They also assist the external scientists in the utilization of
unique facilities at the centers required to carry out some of
the low gravity experimentation.
MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE
| FY 1996 Plan | FY 1996 Actual | FY 1997 Plan | FY 1997 Revised | FY 1998 Plan | |
| Number of Ground-Based Principal Investigators | 260 | 261 | 290 | 290 | 300 |
| Number of Co-Investigators supported (Ground-Based and Flight) | 300 | 259 | 330 | 330 | 340 |
| Number of Graduate Students supported (Ground-Based and Flight) | 540 | 544 | 600 | 600 | 615 |
| Number of Refereed Publications (Ground-Based and Flight) | 1200 | 1216 | 1320 | 1320 | 1360 |
| Performance Milestone | Plan | Actual/Revised | Description/Status |
| Completed 134 peer-reviewed studies in the disciplines of Biotechnology, Fluid Physics and Transport Phenomena, Materials Sciences and Advanced Technology in FY 1996 | -- | -- | A summary assessment of the results of these studies, which focus on macromolecular crystal growth as well as cellular response to low stress environments, will be included in the Annual Program Task and Bibliography of the NASA Technical Memorandum for FY 1996. |
| Complete 31 peer-reviewed studies in Combustion Science | September 1997 | -- | A summary assessment of the results of these studies, which focus on processes of ignition, propagation and extinction during combustion in a low gravity environment, will be included in the Annual Program Task and Bibliography NASA Technical Memorandum for FY 1997. |
| Complete 17 peer- reviewed studies in Combustion Science | September 1999 | -- | A summary assessment of the results of these studies, which focus on processes of ignition, propagation, and extinction during combustion in a low-gravity environment, will be included in the Annual Program Task and Bibliography NASA Technical Memorandum for FY 1999. |
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PLANS
NASA continued investigations selected from the 1994 fluid physics,
materials science, and combustion science NRAs. As these disciplines
enter a period of consolidation following vigorous growth in the
early 1990's, NASA plans only modest budget increases that will
allow for discipline maturation. The investigations currently
supported will define the first phase of space station microgravity
research. Further growth in these disciplines is planned toward
the end of the decade, when it is anticipated that space station
research will grow in scope and intensity.
NASA released the third Microgravity Biotechnology NRA. One hundred
thirty proposals have been received and are undergoing peer-review
for a selection of approximately 30 new awards in April 1997.
The Biotechnology NRA will provide a definitive opportunity for
experiments in protein crystal growth and tissue culturing, as
well as a broadening of the field into fundamental studies of
other areas of biotechnology. Several of these research tasks
are cooperative efforts with the National Institutes of Health
(NIH).
Research into new technologies for x-ray diagnostics of protein
crystals has resulted in the development of a new brilliant x-ray
system. This new system is capable of producing a focused x-ray
beam that is more than 50 times brighter than conventional beams
at a fraction of the power consumption. This new technology is
so promising that a proposal has been submitted to expand the
development to make the system available to ground-based laboratories
throughout the research community. This new proposal is a venture
including NASA, industry, academia, and the NIH.
An agreement was signed between NASA and NIH for the use of a
laser light scattering diagnostic instrument in the Microgravity
Fluid Physics Program. NIH, via its National Eye Institute, will
use the probe for early detection and diagnosis of eye diseases
such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and the inflammatory
diseases of the anterior chamber of the eye.
NASA made awards to 17 academic, industrial, and governmental
institutions for microgravity combustion science investigations.
The awards range from basic scientific research, to the development
of advanced instrumentation that will be of use not only to the
microgravity research community but to terrestrial research and
applications as well. New topical areas include the study of flame-synthesized
fullerenes in microgravity (the material for which the Nobel Prize
in Chemistry was recently awarded) and metals combustion in microgravity.
These will be conducted for the next four years, with extensive
utilization of NASA's drop towers and low-gravity aircraft in
order to perform microgravity experimentation.
A patent was awarded to researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, under contract to NASA Lewis Research Center for the
performance of microgravity combustion science research, for their
new method to lower pollutant emissions in natural-gas appliances
such as residential heating furnaces and hot water heaters. Burners
with their "Ring Flame Stabilizer" reduce significantly
the emissions of NOX (oxides of nitrogen) that are
major contributors to smog and atmospheric contamination. The
title of the patent is "Apparatus and Method for Burning
a Lean Pre-mixed Fuel/Air Mixture with Low NOx Emission."
Collaborative research between Japan/NEDO and the United States/NASA
was established and conducted successfully in the Japanese 10-second
drop tower and NASA Lewis Research Center's 2.2-second and 5-second
drop towers for investigations of fuel droplets and solid fuel
burning. This collaborative research saved substantial resources
for each country, by avoiding duplicative construction of hardware,
while gaining new scientific knowledge of these phenomena.
NASA awarded 33 investigations in the discipline of microgravity
fluid physics and transport phenomena. The selections from the
1994 Fluids NRA represented a 50% increase in the number of ground-based
research tasks supported in this program and has introduced new
areas of research into the discipline, specifically in the areas
of complex fluids, granular flows, and bio-fluids. With the addition
of the new investigators, these areas of the broad fluid physics
discipline are now approaching a critical mass. All of the areas
in the fluid physics discipline are well aligned with the HEDS
enterprise, yielding a fundamental understanding of physical and
chemical transport phenomena that are important in the development
of space.
NASA awarded 23 investigations in the discipline of fundamental
physics. The addition of four investigations of laser-cooled atoms
into the fundamental physics program increases the range of basic
topics to be studied. These include phenomena occurring in Bose-Einstein
condensates and tests of the Standard Model of physics using precise
measurements made possible by the very cold temperatures (within
10-9 degree of absolute zero) of the atomic sample.
The growing community of investigators and the maturity of their
investigations has led to increases in the number of publications
produced, and should also lead to a larger number of proposals
for flight experiments in the December 1996 NASA Research Announcement
for this discipline.
NASA made awards to 51 microgravity materials science research
and analysis investigations. The awards range from basic and applied
scientific research to the development of advanced data acquisition
and thermophysical condition-generation technology. This selection
broadened the established field of microgravity materials science
research and analysis, with emphasis on studies of fundamental
scientific phenomena and specific classes of materials such as
polymers. The awardees will conduct research each year through
FY 2000.
In FY 1997 a road map for the Microgravity Research Program, with
strategies to accomplish program objectives will be prepared.
This road map is analogous to those developed for NASA and the
HEDS Enterprise. In addition, road maps for each of the microgravity
research sub-disciplines (biotechnology, combustion science, fluid
physics and transport phenomena, fundamental physics, and materials
science) will be prepared. The development of these road maps
will insure that the Microgravity Research Program is fully aligned
with the HEDS and NASA strategic goals. These road maps are the
basis for developing the discipline program contents. For each
of the three time periods shown in the plan, major activities/milestones
will be identified and will define the program content required
to meet the stated strategic goal or objective. Subsequently this
information will be used in developing the long term Microgravity
Program budget requests.
The principal objective for the R&A program in FY 1997 will
be to integrate the investigations selected through the three
solicitations released in FY 1997 into the ongoing efforts of
the microgravity program. NASA will be working with large numbers
of external researchers to define flight experiments with high
scientific merit, and with advisory groups as well as the community
at large to achieve the focus and coherence required of a strong,
productive flight program. A productive research program also
requires dynamic flexibility to keep pace with the progress of
scientific and technological knowledge, and in FY 1997 NASA will
continue to stimulate new concepts for microgravity research through
its plan for discipline conferences.
Proposals to renew promising continuing research activities, as
well as new and innovative research proposals, will be selected
by peer review. Proposals selected by peer-review will be judged
to be in the ground-based research or flight-definition part of
the program, based upon the maturity of their laboratory research
and their understanding of the role of the microgravity environment.
Selection of approximately 30 biotechnology proposals for funding
is expected in early 1997. NRAs for Fluid Physics and Transport
Phenomena, Fundamental Physics and Materials Science will be released
in FY 1997.
NASA plans to continue to increase the number of Microgravity
ground-based Principal Investigators in FY 1997. The number of
research proposals received is expected to exceed 600 in FY 1997,
based upon past submissions and the increasing interest in NASA's
microgravity research program. A large portion off these proposals
will be from new investigators who believe that the microgravity
environment will contribute to their research understanding. Other
proposals will be from scientists who have been supported by NASA
to perform laboratory research, and whose work is sufficiently
mature to be included in the flight definition program.
NASA will be improving its field Center resources in FY 1997 and
FY 1998, bringing new and refurbished facilities on line. This
activity will strengthen the ability of NASA field Centers to
support increasing numbers of investigators interested in conducting
microgravity experiments. Approximately 10% of the peer-approved
proposals have NASA scientists as Principal Investigators (Pis)
or Co-Investigators. These civil service scientists contribute
facilities and resources to assist other PIs in accomplishing
their research, especially in the flight program.
| BASIS OF FY 1998 FUNDING REQUIREMENT (Thousands of Dollars) | FY 1996 | FY 1997 | FY 1998 |
| Microgravity flight experiments program | 76,300 | 73,400 | 64,900 |
PROGRAM GOALS
The primary goal of the Microgravity flight program is to advance
fundamental scientific knowledge in physical, chemical, and biological
processes and to enhance the quality of life on Earth by conducting
scientific experiments in the low-gravity environment of space.
The results derived from experiments conducted aboard suborbital
rockets, the Space Shuttle, the Russian Mir Space Station, and
the International Space Station (ISS) will spark the imagination
of the growing academic and industrial science community, enhance
the nation's technological and industrial base, and foster international
cooperation.
STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS
Over the last decade, NASA has established an active scientific
program in microgravity research utilizing the Space Shuttle as
a research tool. As the program moves toward the next century,
the focus will shift from use of the Space Shuttle toward use
of the ISS. The strategy for accomplishing the transition from
the Shuttle to the ISS is to use the Mir Space Station to mitigate
risk in scientific, technological, logistical, and operational
planning. Today, the microgravity research program is utilizing
both the Space Shuttle and the Mir to achieve its objective of
providing flight experiment opportunities for investigators who
can benefit from conducting experiments in the low-gravity environment
of Earth orbit. Microgravity investigations are conducted in the
science disciplines of biotechnology, combustion science, fluid
physics and transport phenomena, fundamental physics, and materials
science. The flight program provides scientific apparatus (e.g.,
flight hardware) for experiments for a wide range of flight opportunities
in the Space Shuttle middeck, Space Shuttle cargo-bay, Spacelab,
Spacehab, the Mir, and the ISS. Experiment apparatus ranges from
small hand-held single experiments to multi-rack, facility-class
hardware which can accommodate multiple investigators. The program
includes selection, definition, development, in-flight operational
support, and data analysis/archiving for all microgravity flight
experiments. The flight program, in conjunction with the NASA/Mir
Research program and the Space Station Research program, comprise
the activities necessary to accomplish the Microgravity research
flight program in the 21st century.
The flight experiments program meets peer-reviewed science requirements
through the development of appropriate infrastructure, experiment
apparatus, flight opportunities, and advanced technologies. The
flight experiments program develops experiments, supports science
operations, and analyzes flight data and samples in all the major
Microgravity disciplines. The flight experiments program fosters
cooperative activities with other organizations to combine the
research goals of those organizations to generate results from
flight experiments which have previously eluded researchers on
earth.
NASA is utilizing the ubiquitous presence and capability of the
Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) to generate real-time displays
of the microgravity environment. By utilizing the WWW, NASA is
able to provide global access to the Shuttle microgravity environment
data to all researchers.
Center and Contractor Support
NASA's FY 1995 Zero Base Review (ZBR) assigned the Agency mission
of microgravity to the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). In
response to the recommendations of the ZBR, the NASA Headquarters
Office of Life and Microgravity Science and Applications (LMSA)
and MSFC established the Microgravity Research Program Office
(MRPO) at MSFC to provide integrated program planning and management
of NASA's Microgravity development program. In addition to its
lead center assignment, MSFC is responsible for the execution
and project management of the microgravity biotechnology, materials
science and glovebox flight programs. Science support at MSFC
is provided by the Universities Space Research Association through
its member universities and the Alliance for Microgravity Materials
Science (AMMSA). Engineering support is provided by various hardware
contractors. Under the leadership of the MRPO, JSC executes the
cell sciences portion of the biotechnology program with contractor
support from Krug Life Science Corporation. LeRC executes the
combustion science, fluid physics and transport phenomena, and
acceleration measurement programs with contractor support from
NYMA and Analex Corporations. The fundamental physics program
is executed by JPL with support from Stanford University and Ball
Aerospace Corporation.
International and Other Federal Agencies Support
The European Space Agency (ESA) developed the Spacelab module
that is used in the United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML),
the Life and Microgravity Spacelab (LMS), and the Microgravity
Science Laboratory (MSL) missions. Additionally, our international
partners developed nearly all of the experiment apparatus that
flew on the second International Microgravity Lab (IML-2). That
apparatus was shared by both international and United States investigators.
The Spacelab glovebox that flew on USML-2 was developed by ESA
and, in exchange for U.S. use of this glovebox on USML-2, NASA
has twice flown two units of the ESA Advanced Protein Crystallization
Facility (APCF) in the middeck of the Space Shuttle. Both U.S.
and European investigators used the APCF on this quid-pro-quo
agreement with ESA. In addition, an agreement is being negotiated
with ESA for additional flights of the APCF. Each flight was for
two APCF units with a total of 96 protein crystal growth cells
where the U.S. investigators would get 48 cells.
Research aboard the LMS mission in biotechnology, fluid physics
and transport phenomena, and materials science allowed United
States investigators to use instruments developed by ESA, broadening
the basis for international cooperation in space research. Both
United States and international investigators used the European-developed
Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE), Material pour l'Etude
des Phenomenes Interessant la Solidification sur Terre et en Orbite
(MEPHISTO), and the Advanced Gradient Heating Facility (AGHF)
to conduct numerous materials science experiments.
The MSL-1 mission will conduct materials science research using
the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA)-developed
large isothermal furnace and the German-developed Tiegelfreies
Elektromagnetisches Prozessieren Unter Schwerelosigkeit (TEMPUS)
hardware. Both United States and international investigators will
utilize this hardware during MSL-1.
The USMP-4 mission will conduct materials science research using
internationally developed hardware that flew on previous USMP
missions which has been upgraded to conduct new peer-reviewed
science experiments.
NASA and ESA are jointly conducting a definition study of the
Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principal (STEP) experiment,
which will be a candidate for an ESA mission in the 2001-2003
time frame. The Microgravity Science Payload (MSP-1) mission,
scheduled for February 2001 will include a reflight of up to two
MEPHISTO furnaces, with both United States and international investigators,
as well as reflights of other United States materials science
experiments.
The NIH has invested billions of dollars of ground-based research
in cell culturing. The NASA/NIH agreement on the use of NASA's
bioreactor technology allows NASA to take advantage of this significant
investment and analysis base to extend the understanding of structure
and functions applicable to cell culture flight experiments using
the NASA-developed bioreactor.
MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE
| FY 1996 Plan | FY 1996 Actual | FY 1997 Plan | FY 1997 Revised | FY 1998 Plan | |
| Number of Flight Principal Investigators | 40 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| Number of Investigators Flown | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 6 |
| Performance Milestone | Plan | Actual/Revised | Description/Status |
| USML-2 Launch | 4th Qtr FY 1995 | 1st Qtr FY 1996 | USML-2 focused on the physics of crystallization, fluid dynamics and biotechnology. Investigations continued from the highly successful USML-1 mission (6/92), as well as new investigations chosen since that time. |
| USMP-3 Launch | 2nd Qtr FY 1996 | 2nd Qtr FY 1996 | The USMP-3 mission focused on experiments in microgravity materials science and included reflight of the AADSF, IDGE, MEPHISTO, and Zeno. Both European and U.S. investigations were conducted. |
| Life and Microgravity Sciences Mission (LMS) Launch | 3rd Qtr FY 1996 | 3rd Qtr FY 1996 | The LMS mission was the first flight of the ESA Advanced Gradient Heating Furnace (AGHF), a new furnace facility available to NASA to conduct materials science investigations selected in 1992 on the physics of multiphase solidification. Several ESA investigations were also conducted. The Bubble Drop and Particle Unit also supplied by ESA supported a wide range of fluid physics investigations. |
| Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) Launch | Plan: 2nd Qtr FY 1997 | -- | The MSL-1 flight will carry major NASA-developed instruments for research in combustion science and fluid physics (Combustion Module-1 (CM-1), the Droplet Combustion Experiment (DCE) and the Physics of Hard Spheres Experiment (PHASE)). These investigations explore phenomena central to pollution control, engine efficiency, fire safety, and phase transformation. Using both German and Japanese-developed hardware and both U.S. and international investigators, materials science investigations will continue investigations which were begun on IML-2. |
| USMP-4 Launch | 1st Qtr FY 1998 | -- | The USMP-4 mission will focus on experiments in microgravity materials science and will be a reflight of hardware from the USMP-3. Both European and U.S. investigations will be conducted. |
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PLANS
The major FY 1996 efforts in the Microgravity Research Flight
Experiments Program were focused on the USMP-3 Spacelab and LMS
missions. USMP-3 included the same complement of experiment facilities
as USMP-2: three solidification furnaces, each of which is designed
to examine a different type of crystal growth, and a fluids facility.
While the majority of the hardware is the same, the scientific
research is new. Principal Investigators have used the data from
USMP-2 to redesign experiments to probe more deeply into phenomena
that yielded numerous scientific insights.
Research aboard the LMS mission in biotechnology, fluid physics,
and materials science allowed U.S. investigators to use instruments
developed by ESA, broadening the basis for international cooperation
in space research. The LMS mission was the first to fly the ESA
Advanced Gradient Heating Furnace (AGHF), a new furnace facility
of significant interest to the U.S. science community available
to NASA through international cooperation. The AGHF was used by
NASA to conduct two materials science investigations selected
in 1992 on the physics of multiphase solidification. Several ESA
investigations were also conducted. The Bubble, Drop and Particle
Unit (BDPU) was modified and used to conduct two new NASA investigations,
as well as experiments sponsored by ESA. NASA protein crystal
growth project conducted two new types of experiments on the 16-day
mission.
In August 1996, the Agency decided to terminate, by July 1997,
the dedicated use of the leased DC-9 based at Lewis Research Center
for providing parabolic aircraft flight support to NASA's microgravity
research program. As the Microgravity Lead Center, the Marshall
Space Flight Center (MSFC) has been directed to validate the parabolic
aircraft requirements (annual flight hours needed) for all NASA-sponsored
microgravity research (both Microgravity Research and Space Product
Development, and to develop an implementation plan for providing
parabolic support to NASA's microgravity research program. The
plan, to be in place prior to termination of the DC-9 agreement,
will include the details for return of the DC-9 to the lessor,
and address the validation of all Agency KC-135 requirements.
Biotechnology
During FY 1996, the Biotechnology Program supported 20 experimental
instrument flights in protein crystal growth and cell science.
More than 1500 protein samples were flown by three Principal Investigators
and numerous Guest Investigators. This large number of samples
provided opportunities for investigators to use multiple sample
protocols and build a statistical basis for their investigations.
Several samples were flown to help develop a system that will
investigate the fundamental mechanisms by which protein crystals
form. This knowledge will assist not only investigators growing
crystals in space, but investigators performing such experiments
in their Earth-bound laboratories.
The first long duration flight of a cell and tissue culturing
device was placed in orbit in the Mir during FY 1996. This unit,
a pathfinder for Space Station cell laboratories, has already
grown three dimensional cartilage cell constructs larger than
those attainable in terrestrial laboratories.
Combustion Science
NASA awarded grants to three new investigators for spaceflight
experimentation in microgravity combustion science. These involve
the development of testing methodology and apparatus for categorizing
the flammability of spacecraft materials in microgravity, the
study of multi-component fuel droplets, and the study of so-called
"cool flames," applicable to internal combustion engine
performance. The definition of these experiments and subsequent
peer reviews for approval for spaceflight will take place over
the next few years.
Flown during the USMP-3 mission in February, 1996, three combustion
investigations were performed in order to begin to directly address
on-orbit safety of the crew from accidental fire. The Radiative
Ignition and Transition to Spread Investigation and the Forced
Flow Flame Spread Test studied the transition from a momentary
ignition to a fire spread situation; from a scientific perspective
these were highly successful as they identified new and unpredicted
behavior. The third, Comparative Soot Diagnostics, provided the
first test data on the in-space performance of the Shuttle's and
the ISS smoke detection systems while determining particulate
sizes and concentrations from typical spacecraft materials and
a selected hydrocarbon fuel.
NASA will reach a major milestone on MSL-1 in March, 1997 in combustion
science in microgravity with the on-orbit performance of many
combustion experiments. These include one examining soot formation
and oxidation (an area of critical importance to environmental
and manufacturing concerns); another examining isolated fuel droplet
combustion (an area of classical textbook interest and needed
for improved modeling of engines and propulsion systems); and
a third examining unique premixed hydrogen-oxygen-diluent burning
(an area of long-standing scientific interest and to provide baseline
data for hydrogen burning behavior).
Fluid Physics and Transport Phenomena
The Critical Viscosity of Xenon (CVX) experiment will be conducted
on STS-85 in July 1997. This is a fundamental physics experiment
to determine the critical exponent for xenon more accurately than
is possible under normal gravity. The CVX data will be used to
quantitatively test the form for the crossover theory of critical
viscosity and provide complementary results with the Zeno experiment
to test the mode coupling theory of critical phenomena.
The Physics of Hard Spheres Experiment (PHASE), being carried
aboard the March 1997 MSL-1 mission, will examine order-disorder
transitions in colloidal suspensions.
The first flight of the Extensional Rheology Experiment (ERE)
will be conducted on a sounding rocket in late FY 1998. The science
objectives are: 1) to generate a simple, homogeneous, shear-free
flow in the material, to perform the first direct measurements
of the extensional viscosity of a dilute polymer solution in uniaxial
stretching flow during constant strain rate deformation and to
characterize how this property varies with time and deformation
rate; 2) to perform measurements of transient stress growth and
relaxation of the test fluid; and, 3) to successfully isolate
the mechanisms associated with elastic deformation and viscous
hydrodynamics.
Science requirements are being established and the design of the
test section hardware has begun for the Two-Phase Extended Evaluation
in Microgravity (TEEM) experiment - a joint project between NASA
JSC, LeRC and GSFC. The objective of this experiment is to provide
extended duration microgravity data on two-phase systems necessary
for risk mitigation for the International Space Station, in support
of technologies for NASA's Enterprise for the Human Exploration
and Development of Space. A launch opportunity for TEEM has not
yet been established.
Fundamental Physics
The Critical Fluid Light Scattering Experiment/Zeno successfully
completed its second flight on the USMP-3/STS-75 mission in February
1996. Zeno was a fundamental physics Experiment to extend and
improve measurements of the decay rates and the correlation length
of critical fluctuations in a simple fluid very near its liquid-vapor
critical point. This second flight completed the flight experiment
program of the Principal Investigator. The flight data are currently
being analyzed.
Materials Science
The Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE) is a fundamental
microgravity materials science experiment that has been flown
twice as part of the United States Microgravity Payload (USMP)
series on the space shuttle Columbia. The first two flights of
IDGE have provided the first ever set of convection-free dendritic
growth data. Because virtually all industrially important alloys
solidify from a molten state by a dendritic process, a fundamental
understanding of dendritic solidification is necessary to correct
mathematical models that provide the basis for improved industrial
production techniques. In addition, during the February 1996 USMP-3
mission, the IDGE became the first U.S. microgravity experiment
to be commanded and controlled from the Principal Investigator's
university. Researchers and students from the Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute controlled the Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment
(IDGE) through an electronic link to the NASA Lewis Research Center's
Telescience Support Center. Remote telescience operations is a
very cost effective tool that enables researchers to conduct microgravity
experiments from their own facility, rather than traveling to
a NASA operations center to conduct an experiment. This demonstration
of telescience capabilities is especially important as this is
the likely operations scenario for the coming International Space
Station era. IDGE's third flight is scheduled for October 1997,
aboard USMP-4.
The first flight of the Mechanics of Granular Materials (MGM)
experiment was completed on the STS-79/Mir-4 mission in September
1996. The science objective is to obtain quantitative knowledge
of the behavior of bulky granular materials under low confining
pressures. The resultant data will be important in the understanding
of soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, earthquake engineering,
coastal and off shore engineering, mining engineering, planetary
geology, granular flow processes and engineering with granular
materials. A second flight is scheduled for STS-86 in 1997 to
complete the experiment data requirements matrix.
Three materials science experiments will be conducted on the MSL-1
mission in April, 1997: Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures (CSLM),
Liquid Phase Sintering-2 (LPS-2), and Diffusion Processes in Molten
Semiconductors (DPIMS). The objective of the CSLM is to study
the coarsening kinetics of tin-rich particles in the eutectic
liquids of lead-tin alloys of various compositions.
The second flight of the Bismuth-Tin Solidification Experiment
(BiSn-2) on USMP-4 in October 1997 will provide data on the solidification
behavior and the solid-liquid interface stability of bismuth and
bismuth-tin alloys during crystal growth. It uses the Seebeck
technique to measure interface undercooling temperature, resistance
change across the sample to measure interfacial velocity, Peltier
pulsing for demarcation of the sample interface, and quenching
for chemistry and structure near the solid/liquid interface at
temperature. The experiment is to be carried out in the French-developed
MEPHISTO furnace.
NASA/NIH Program
The cell culture technologies and protein crystal growth research
constitutes the major NASA/NIH emphasis for the next 5-6 years,
but it is anticipated that other areas of cooperation will evolve
from preliminary results. Over the past years, NASA has explored
many aspects of the growth of protein crystals and the development
of tissue culturing technologies which offer great promise. Similar
types of efforts are being explored with several other institutes.
This program will stimulate the joint agreements with other Federal
agencies.
Two multidisciplinary research centers are supported: Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge and the Wistar Institute, Philadelphia.
These Centers expand the pace of technology transfer in the biotechnology
areas begun under the NASA-NIH inter-agency agreement. Through
NASA-NIH cooperation, NASA has funded approximately 28 research
proposals. It has also supported NIH-approved researchers in testing
of tissue samples in NASA bioreactors at JSC. This has proven
to be a very important undertaking in getting researchers to test
NASA technology and in gaining acceptance in the larger biomedical
community.
NASA is currently working with the National Eye Institute (NEI)
to transfer NASA technology. This technology involves the use
of laser light scattering to detect early signs of the onset of
cataract formation. Discussions with the NEI have led to the decision
to proceed with development of a prototype diagnostic tool. After
successful demonstration, the NEI is interested in obtaining the
technology for use in a large scale clinical trial.
NASA is also collaborating with the National Eye Institute using protein crystal growth technology to determine the structures of important proteins related to the signal pathway for sight. This is a joint program between NASA, NIH, and Eli Lilly.
| BASIS OF FY 1998 FUNDING REQUIREMENT (Thousands of Dollars) | FY 1996 | FY 1997 | FY 1998 |
| Space Product Development | 26,500 | 13,000 | 12,900 |
PROGRAM GOALS
Beginning in FY 1997, the Space Product Development activities
previously budgeted within Space Access and Technology will be
transferred to Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications.
The Space Processing budget has two program elements: the Space
Product Development program and the Space Station Utilization
program. The goal of the Space Product Development program is
to facilitate the use of space for commercial products and services.
These products and services can either be produced in space, or
be the result of new approaches to ground-based commercial activities
using insights gained from space flight. Consistent with this
goal, the Space Product Development program seeks to increase
U.S. business participation and investment in space-linked commercial
goods and services in order to benefit U.S. industry and the economy
as a whole. The program also seeks to provide the opportunity
for students to engage with industry in space program activities.
As part of the establishment of the Lead Center management for
the International Space Station at the Johnson Space Center, and
the dissolution of the Office of Space Access and Technology,
the LMSA program now includes management responsibility for these
Space Product Development activities. Funding for the commercial
and technology experiments planned for the International Space
Station is now included under the Space Station research program,
and discussed in that budget section.
STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS
The Space Product Development program is conducted in partnership
with industry, universities, state governments and other Federal
agencies. The program's purpose is to facilitate the use of space
for commercial products and services. To accomplish this in-space
commercial research and to develop industry partnerships, the
program uses Commercial Space Centers (CSCs), specific project
centers, and several NASA field Centers . The commercial centers
are non-profit organizations, based at universities and NASA field
Centers. The CSC's provide excellent opportunities to seek numerous
and varied industrial affiliations. The Space Development program
includes the following CSC's:
The Space Product Development program provides the required access
to NASA experiment facilities and offers access to space, utilizing
the Shuttle mid-deck, SPACEHAB and Wake Shield facilities. Such
access is prohibitively expensive for most corporations or small
businesses, especially at the high-risk, exploratory stages. This
barrier to access the commercial use of space has greatly inhibited
the commercial development of space-linked products or services.
Through the cost-sharing partnerships between NASA, the universities
and industry offered by the Space Products Development program,
private enterprises of all sizes are able to afford the research
most important to the development of space-linked commercial products
and services.
The Space Product Development Program has made significant progress
in facilitating the commercial uses of space. As displayed in
the metrics, nearly 200 commercial partners, invested over $40M
in FY 1996 to use space to enhance their competitive position,
develop new products and impact their "bottom line."
In the process they create jobs, and contribute to "quality-of-life"
improvements. This is consistent with the frequent access-to-space
opportunities in FY 1995 and 1996. The decrease in these metrics
is a result of reduced space research opportunities, as the Shuttle
is being increasingly focused on the assembly of the International
Space Station, with early Station utilization being rephased by
changing Space Station requirements. The ability to retain, much
less increase, commercial interest will become a significant challenge.
MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE
The metrics for the Space Product Development area capture the
number of university and industry affiliates that are working
with NASA in the commercialization of space and the amount of
funding leveraged from non-NASA sources by the Commercial Development
Centers. The complete set of metrics also address patents, publications
and commercial activity measures for Space Products.
| Industry Affiliates | |||
| University Affiliates | |||
| Payloads Flown | |||
| Non-NASA $M Leveraged |
| FY 1996 | Payload | Plan | Actual |
| STS-75/Columbia | Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG)-09 | February 1996 | February 1996 |
| STS-77/Endeavour | Spacehab-4 (10 payloads) | May 1996 | May 1996 |
| STS-79/Atlantis | Extreme Temperature Translating Furnace;
Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA) Materials in Devices as Superconductors; CPCG | August 1996 | September 1996 |
| FY 1997 | Payload | Plan/Revised | Actual |
| STS-80/Columbia | Wake Shield Facility-3 (WSF-3)/ CMIX-4 (commercial expmt) | November 1996 | November 1996 |
| STS-83/Columbia | Astroculture/Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus | March 1997 | |
| STS-86/Atlantis | Liquid Phase Sintering/CGBA/CIBX (commercial experiment) | September 1997 | |
| FY 1998 | Payload | Plan | |
| STS-89/Endeavour | X-ray Detector Test | January 1998 |
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PLANS
In FY 1996, four CSC payloads flew on Shuttle missions: the Commercial
Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA) on STS-79, the Korund Liquid
Phase Sintering metallurgy research, on STS-76 in March 1996;
and the Materials in Devices as Superconductors and Commercial
Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) projects, on STS-79 in September
1996. The CGBA will provide data for the agriculture industry
to help improve certain plant characteristics, such as mechanical
strength and nutrient content. The PCG is being flown to characterize
additional proteins which will provide new design data for better
drugs.
Flight hardware is being fabricated in FY 1996 to be used in KC-135
experiments for the Solidification Design/Thermal Properties Measurement
program. These experiments will develop a thermal properties measurement
capability on the Space Station for use in solidification design
of castings.
The Phase I clinical trials of photo-kinetic therapy using a Light
Emitting Diode (LED) light source to treat psoriasis will be concluded
in FY 1996. Significant advances in treatment of breast melanoma
and other tumors with LED technology and interactive drugs have
also been achieved in FY 1996. The SPACEHAB-4 flight is expected
to provide float zone single crystals of Gallium Arsenide and
Gallium Antinomide for advanced electronic applications such as
faster computer processing.
Conquest I launch took place April 3, 1996 as part of the Congressionally-mandated
launch voucher demonstration.
In 1997 the zeolite industry will propose experiments designed
to improve the catalytic value of zeolites, which in turn will
increase the yield of certain petroleum products in petroleum
refineries.
A multi-use, Space Station-based X-Ray diffraction facility has
been defined and development will start in FY 1997. The facility
will produce images of the internal structures of protein crystals
grown on the Space Station, allowing rapid characterization and
definition of the crystals. The capability to produce this imaging
data in space and deliver that data to customers on Earth will
be essential to optimize the Space Station's commercial protein
crystallography operations, to provide timely data and to avoid
loss of crystal degradation due to time delays.
The expanded double locker plant growth chamber will undergo key
milestone reviews in FY 1997. The chamber is the product of a
cooperative program between the Wisconsin Center for Space Automation
and Robotics (at the University of Wisconsin in Madison) and Bioserve
Space Technologies (at the University of Colorado in Boulder)
and Kansas State University. It will be used for applied research
exploring phenomena such as lignification of plants and gene splicing
to produce superior plant stock for the agricultural industry.
Flight hardware will continue to be fabricated in FY 1997 for
use in KC-135 experiments for the Solidification Design/Thermal
Properties Measurement program.
The Space Product Development program plans to work with its centers
and their industrial partners to capitalize on the results from
initial experiments to complete planning for the commercial utilization
of the Space Station. The intent is to focus resources on those
applications and processes showing the greatest potential for
commercial success.
Phase II clinical trials will be initiated for the Light Emitting
Diode (LED) technology used for medical application to combat
disease.
Cooperative research activity will be developed between the Consortium
for Materials Development in Space and the commercial sector for
transplantable cell tissue. If the Gas Permeable Polymer Materials
(GPPM) flight results are positive, FDA clinical trials will be
initiated for improved contact lenses. NASA technical analyses
will be provided in support of the Critical Design Review for
the plant growth chamber/Commercial Plant Growth Biotechnology
Facility. Ground-based transition of plant growth facility for
terrestrial use will also be pursued as will candidate drug spin-off
of IMMUNE flight research. (The primary thrust of research focuses
on immune system strengthening and countering bone loss. It is
anticipated that specific drug therapies will emerge and be brought
into the market place through this research.)
Significant work is planned in FY 1998 at all of the CSC's. Phase
III clinical trials will continue for the LED technology in medical
application. This will be the product development transition year.
This work will be performed at the CSC/Wisconsin Center for Automation
and Robotics.
Prototype completion is planned of the Plant Growth Biotechnology
Facility at the CSC/Bioserve Space Technologies and Wisconsin
Center for Automation and Robotics.
Market development of products in the magnetic bacteria immunoassay
project, using results from flight data (CSC/Bioserve Space Technologies
flight). Substantial effort is planned in the area of Mammalian
Cell Stabilization, a process to inhibit cell growth, that is
a potential tool against cancer. The goal for this area for FY
1998 is commercial medical transition, based on flight results
(CSC/Bioserve Space Technologies flight).
Industry, the Commercial Space Centers and NASA, will continue
definition studies and commitment to future flight products. Twenty
industrial commitments to the Combustion Center are targeted,
using a defined path to Station utilization using as many LMSA
developed facilities as practical. Space Station will be the "test
bed" and technology platform for combustion activities once
it is available for commercial utilization (CSC/Center for Commercial
Applications of Combustion in Space).
Efforts will continue to bring to market those pharmaceuticals
already engendered by previous space flight activity (CSC/Center
for Macromolecular Crystallography flights).
| BASIS OF FY 1998 FUNDING REQUIREMENT (Thousands of Dollars) | FY 1996 | FY 1997 | FY 1998 |
| Space shuttle/spacelab mission management and integration | 53,600 | 24,200 | 6,900 |
PROGRAM GOALS
The goals of this program are twofold: (1) provide physical, analytical,
and operations integration support to achieve NASA mission objectives
for the science and technology communities; and (2) ensure integrated
scientific, technological, and commercial user advocacy and coordination
of requirements for the next generation of space laboratories.
STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS
In order to meet the program goals and objectives, NASA performs
the mission planning, integration, and execution of all NASA Spacelab,
Spacehab, the NASA/Mir Research Program (NMRP), and other attached
Space Shuttle payloads to carry out a wide variety of space research.
The program also supports the common small science payloads that
use locker spaces in the Space Shuttle's lower crew compartment.
Activities include system management and engineering development
of flight support equipment and software; development of interface
hardware; payload specialist training and support; integration
of the science payloads with the Spacelab system; payload flight
operations; and data dissemination to experimenters. Mission management
activities are dependent upon the specific mix of missions in
a particular year.
In addition, through this program, NASA carries out systems engineering
efforts to develop and evaluate strategies and processes for satisfying
current and future research mission objectives. These tasks not
only address the current Space Shuttle/Spacelab mission integration
processes, but, based on this knowledge base, they define and
support new effective and efficient processes and tools for carrying
out integrated research advocacy, requirements coordination, mission
planning and operations for future space platforms. In particular,
the program is investigating ways to apply the engineering and
operations lessons learned in the Spacelab program and the NMRP
to the ISS program to achieve greater efficiencies.
Center and Contractor Support
The principal NASA Centers which conduct activities in support
of this program are the JSC, the KSC, and the MSFC. In FY 1998,
JSC will provide the analytical integration and operations level
project management support for the remaining two NMRP missions
(NASA/Mir 8 and NASA/Mir 9, scheduled to be launched in the first
and second quarters respectively), and the Neurolab mission (scheduled
to be launched in the second quarter). MSFC will provide the analytical
integration and operations level project management support for
the United States Microgravity Payload (USMP)-4, to be launched
in the first quarter. KSC will provide the physical hardware science
payload integration project management support for the NASA science
payloads on the Neurolab and USMP-4 flights.
In FY 1998, the primary contractors that will be supporting the
program at the Centers are: Lockheed-Martin at JSC; the McDonnell
Douglas Corporation's Payloads Ground Operations Contract (PGOC)
at KSC; and Teledyne-Brown Engineering at MSFC. At JSC, Lockheed-Martin
provides payload mission integration support for the missions
managed by the JSC. At MSFC, Teledyne-Brown provides payload mission
integration support for the missions managed by MSFC. At KSC,
the primary PGOC functions include: processing flight hardware
experiments for Spacelab and partial payloads, manifest scheduling
and work control support, logistics support and sustaining engineering
modifications to facilities and systems, and computational services
for the Payload Operations Computer Network.
MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE
The most significant measure of performance is the provision of
an integrated system that ensures successful accomplishment of
the science payload objectives. Although not directly responsible
for the success of a particular experiment, the mission management
organization is responsible for ensuring that all necessary planning
and integration of the collected set of instruments have been
comprehensively completed and fully coordinated so that the experimental
hardware in concert with flight crew performance and ground control
direction have the opportunity to conduct the planned science
activities. Science payload objectives vary considerably depending
upon the type of mission supported (module missions, pallet/MPESS
missions or Space Shuttle Middecks) and the type of scientific
investigations performed (microgravity, life sciences, Earth and
stellar observations). Depending upon the type of payload, performance
is measured in terms of the number of primary missions and the
number of middeck missions successfully flown as scheduled and
the successful accomplishment of the science payload objectives:
| FY 1996 Plan | FY 1996 Actual | FY 1997 Plan | FY 1997 Revised | FY 1998 Plan | |
| Spacelab/Pallet Missions | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Mir Missions | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Middecks/Small Payloads | 8 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 12 |
| Performance Milestone | Plan | Actual/Revised | Description/Status |
| USML-2 Launch | 4th Qtr FY 1995 | 1st Qtr FY 1996 | The objectives of this Spacelab module mission were to conduct scientific and technological investigations in materials, fluids, combustion and biological processes and to explore potential applications of space for commercial products and processes. Fifteen investigations were baselined for this mission, as well as seven additional U.S. investigations conducted in the USML-2 Glovebox facility. This mission was successfully conducted in the first quarter of FY 1996, having been delayed due to Shuttle program considerations and weather problems. |
| USMP-3 Launch | : 2nd Qtr FY 1996 | 2nd Qtr FY 1996 | This USMP-3 mission performed materials processing and other experiments in the microgravity space environment with in-flight monitoring of phenomena, sample production, and post-flight analysis of samples. Such activities are expected to significantly advance the basic knowledge of materials science and help develop better products and technology for use on Earth and in space. This mission was launched on schedule and was highly successful in the achievement of its scientific goals. |
| LMS Launch | : 3rd Qtr FY 1996 | 3rd Qtr FY 1996 | The LMS module mission performed scientific investigations in the fields of materials science, fluid physics, protein crystal growth, and biotechnology. Human and plant studies and a subset of investigations previously planned for SLS-3 were also conducted. This mission was launched on schedule and was highly successful in the achievement of its scientific goals. |
| ORFEUS-SPAS 2 Launch | 1st Qtr FY 1997 | 1st Qtr FY 1997 | The second flight of the Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer Shuttle Pallet Satellite (ORFEUS-SPAS-2) is an astronomical telescope for observations at very short wavelengths in two spectral ranges, the far ultraviolet (FUV) and the extreme ultraviolet (EUV). These spectrometers are mounted on the German built deployable/retrievable ASTRO-SPAS carrier. |
| MSL-1 Launch | : 2nd Qtr FY 1997 | -- | The MSL-1 will focus on microgravity combustion and international research in microgravity materials science. Three new microgravity combustion experiments will use two new, large research facilities constructed for this mission. |
| CRISTA-SPAS 2 Launch | 4th Qtr FY 1997 | -- | The second flight of the Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere Shuttle Pallet Satellite (CRISTA-SPAS-2) is a set of spectrometers which measures the constituents of Earth's middle atmosphere. These spectrometers are mounted on the German built deployable/retrievable ASTRO-SPAS carrier. |
| USMP-4 Launch | 1st Qtr FY 1998 | -- | This USMP-4 mission will perform materials processing and other experiments in the microgravity space environment with inflight monitoring of phenomena, sample production, and postflight analysis of samples. Such activities are expected to significantly advance the basic knowledge of materials science and help develop better products and technology for use on Earth and in space. |
| Neurolab Launch | 2nd Qtr FY 1998 | -- | This mission will perform international research in brain function and behavior, including research on the autonomic nervous function, sleep regulation, vestibular physiology, developmental neurobiology, and sensorimotor function |
| Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Launch | 3rd Qtr FY 1998 | -- | This Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored AMS payload will fly twice, first on the Space Shuttle in 1998 and later on the International Space Station. AMS will search for cosmic sources of antimatter and missing matter (Co-manifested With NASA/Mir-9). |
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PLANS
In FY 1996, the Space Shuttle/Spacelab Mission Management and
Integration program successfully managed three Shuttle missions:
the second flight of the United States Microgravity Laboratory
(USML-2), scheduled for flight during the last quarter of FY 1995,
was delayed until the first quarter of FY 1996, due to Space Shuttle
program considerations and inclement weather; the third flight
of the United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-3) mission was
scheduled and successfully accomplished during the second quarter;
and the Life and Microgravity Sciences (LMS) mission was scheduled
and successfully accomplished during the third quarter. In addition
to the three Shuttle missions, the mission management organization
supported the flights of 8 smaller middeck class science payloads
sponsored both by NASA and other government agencies.
During FY 1997, the mission management organization will provide
mission management support to the launch of the MSL-1 mission
in addition to 3 flights to Mir (discussed within the Space Station
program narrative.) The organization will also provide program
coordination for the second flights of the Cryogenic Infrared
Spectrometers and Telescopes for NASA the Atmosphere Shuttle Pallet
Satellite (CRISTA-SPAS-2) and the Orbiting and Retrievable Far
and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer Shuttle Pallet Satellite
(ORFEUS-SPAS-2) missions, both scheduled for launch in FY 1997.
In FY 1997, systems engineering efforts will continue to support
methodologies for advocacy and coordination of U.S. research requirements
and implementation of processes and tools for mission
planning for US payloads on future space platforms, primarily
the phase II and III of the ISS. Space Station planning and integration
efforts will intensify as the First Element Launch date of the
ISS approaches (December 1997). Spacelab-related activities will
be sharply reduced in FY 1997, because the Spacelab modules fly
for the last time in early 1998.
During FY 1998, the mission management organization will provide
mission management support to the launch of three Shuttle missions
which will conduct Life and Microgravity scientific research:
the fourth flight of USMP; the Neurolab mission; and the precursor
flight of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (co-manifested with
NASA/Mir-9) along with two flights of the NMRP (NASA/Mir 8 and
NASA/Mir 9). FY 1998 marks the conclusion of the very successful
Spacelab program with the completion of the Neurolab mission.
| BASIS OF FY 1998 FUNDING REQUIREMENT (Thousands of Dollars) | FY 1996 | FY 1997 | FY 1998 |
| Aerospace Medicine and occupational health | 8,000 | 3,800 | 7,500 |
PROGRAM GOALS
The goals of the Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Health programs
are to: 1) provide for the health care and well-being of all NASA
employees in their ground- and space-based work environments;
2) develop appropriate requirements for medical operations and
medical research; and 3) promote applications of knowledge gained
and technologies developed in the public and private sectors.
STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING GOALS
The primary objectives of the Aerospace Medicine and Occupational
Health programs are to support the NASA Mission through the preservation
and maintenance of the physical and mental health of Agency employees
and the health and productivity of the astronauts, thus increasing
the probability of success of space flight missions. The scope
of work includes the refinement of standards and requirements
for operational medicine in support of human space flight; provision
of ground-based medical support for human space flight mission
operations; and ensuring development of hardware, training, and
protocols for maintaining clinical care readiness on-board spacecraft.
To achieve the program goals, several activities have been established,
which are investments in technologies that will enable NASA to
meet the challenges of space exploration in the new millennium.
In addition, these technologies are being utilized today to enhance
our abilities to provide medical care and medical education to
NASA employees regardless of their location.
The Global Health Applications activity transfers NASA knowledge
and technology achieved in aerospace medicine and occupational
health to a variety of domestic and international endeavors that
contribute to national competitiveness, education, and quality
of life. This work is accomplished via publications and use of
other media to inform others of our aerospace medicine and occupational
health practices; promoting the incorporation of these practices
in educational curricula; and transferring the technologies developed
for medical care of space flight crews to terrestrial health care
applications such as the use of telemedicine to improve the access
to health care in rural and underserved areas and to support medical
responses to disaster-stricken areas both in the U.S. and abroad.
The Occupational Health program establishes policies and manages
implementation of NASA-wide occupational and environmental health
programs and services through the Agency Occupational Health Office
located at the Kennedy Space Center. These services include provision
of immediate medical care for acute illnesses, accidents and injuries
in the workplace; controlling and responding to acute and chronic
exposure of employees to toxic materials, hazardous environments
and harmful physical agents in the workplace; implementing state-of-the-art
wellness programs and preventive medicine programs based on professional
practice guidelines of the American College of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine.
The JSC has established and is operating a telemedicine system
at Star City, Russia to support the U.S. astronauts, flight surgeons,
and other personnel in Russia supporting Phase I of the International
Space Station (ISS) Program. In addition, JSC is developing a
portable telemedicine capability, which will support medical operations
activities for the ISS.
Collaborative initiatives with other agencies, academia, and industry
will be established to leverage existing technologies and foster
development of emerging technologies in telecommunications and
information systems as they apply to health care in space flight.
Center and Contractor Support
The JSC and Headquarters are the principal Centers involved in
the Aerospace Medicine program. The KSC and Headquarters are the
principal Centers involved in the Occupational Health Program.
JSC will be assigned Lead Center responsibility for the Aerospace
Medicine program, which will be renamed the Space Medicine program.
The ARC and LeRC are key Centers in the development of communications
and computer technologies for the support of NASA's Spacebridge
to Russia, an Internet based telemedicine testbed. The JSC will
manage telemedicine efforts in support of medical operations activities
for the Human Space Flight Program. The KSC serves as the lead
center for management and implementation of occupational and environmental
health programs. The ARC serves as the lead center for the telecommunications
via the NASA Science Internet. Wright State University School
of Medicine and the Texas Medical Center are the major contractors
for the Aerospace Medicine program.
MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE
| Performance Milestone | Plan | Actual/Revised | Description/Status |
| Multilateral Medical Policy Board | 4th Qtr FY 1997 | Under review | Establish a document for the Multilateral Medical Policy Board which validates medical requirements, standards, protocols, and flight rules for all the International Space Station Program. |
| Executive Council for Health, Environmental Management and Safety | 2nd Qtr, FY 1997 | Under review | Establish a council for the Agency to ensure Agency-wide uniformity of programs and compliance with externally-mandated laws and regulations. |
| Commercial Space Center for Informatics and Medical Technologies | 2nd Qtr, FY 1997 | Under review | Establish a Commercial Space Center for Informatics and Medical Technologies at a leading academic institution to develop partnerships and leverage resources and technologies in the fields of telemedicine, information technologies, and medical technologies |
The Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Health program is in the
process of redefining criteria for measuring performance. Possible
criteria include: the conveyance of technology, protocols and
procedures for terrestrial applications; and overall fitness of
humans in space and their ability to do productive work by measuring
the effectiveness of medical systems, countermeasures, and standards.
Possible Occupational Health criteria include documentation of
the number of controls instituted for chronic exposures to toxic
and or physical and biological hazards, the number of occupational
medicine exam abnormalities, the number of life-threatening health
risk factors identified and controlled in the employee population,
and the number of OWCP claims filed and controverted.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PLANS
The JSC-developed portable telemedicine instrumentation pack (TIP)
has been evaluated in several settings, including the Harris County
Jail and between the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana and a
hospital in Billings, MT. The TIP is currently being integrated
with a computer and will be flown on the Space Shuttle in late
FY 1997 for testing (planned STS-87). The Space Biomedical Center
for Training and Research at Moscow State University (MSU) completed
its first year of activities with highlights in several disciplines,
including aerospace medicine, telemedicine and medical education.
The Internet-based telemedicine testbed called Spacebridge to
Russia, which links several medical centers in the U.S. with several
clinical sites in Moscow and integrates Internet tools such as
the World Wide Web and video teleconferencing capability to support
medical consultations and medical education, were continued. Medical
lectures have been exchanged between Baylor College of Medicine
and MSU using the Internet.
A space medicine project which focuses on continuous improvement
in medical requirements for spaceflight through the development
of appropriate laboratory and diagnostic tests, was continued.
This project incorporates activities from several JSC programs
including the Crew Health Care System for ISS, medical operations
activities, and the Human Research Facility. Two space medicine
program activities, Spacebridge to Russia and the Global Health
Network, were recognized for achievements in the field of Internet
applications. They were both named as finalists of the 1996 National
Information Infrastructure (NII) Awards.
The Aerospace Medicine program led a Agency-wide initiative to
develop a strategic plan on telemedicine. In addition, a comprehensive
inventory of NASA telemedicine activities was developed.
FY 1997 plans for the Aerospace Medicine Program include: 1) continuing
the Internet-based telemedicine testbed, Spacebridge to Russia;
2) supporting development of the Pan American Health Organization
and Global Health Network Internet systems for disaster response
planning and for sharing preventive medicine and public health
information; 3) developing a network of medical experts for all
telemedical consultations for space flight mission support (e.g.,
flight crew or disaster recovery); 4) developing and in-flight
testing of the TIP; 5) continuing comprehensive risk assessment
and review of medical requirements for space flight during long
duration missions; 6) continuing the Space Medicine Project for
the development of medical requirements for research in order
to ensure the timely availability of adequate procedures, protocols
and countermeasures to maintain and enhance human health and performance
during extended duration missions; 7) providing support for operational
medical activities for Space Shuttle missions, Phase 1 of the
ISS, and the implementation of a comprehensive medical care facility
for the ISS; 8) establishing a Joint Medical Policy Board and
developing joint medical operations requirements documents with
all the ISS partners; 9) continuing the efforts of the Space Biomedical
Center; 10) establish a Commercial Space Center (CSC) for Informatics
and Medical Technologies; 11) invest in collaborative activities
with academia, other agencies, and industry in the application
of emerging technologies in communications and information systems
to health care; and 12) work closely with medical representatives
of the ISS partners in developing medical care requirements, standards,
and addressing medical issues.
FY 1997 Plans for the Occupational Health Program include: 1)
establishing an Occupational Health Executive Council with a Health,
Environmental Management, and Safety subcommittee to ensure Agency-wide
uniformity of programs and compliance with externally mandated
laws and regulations; 2) expansion and implementation of an Agency-wide
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) system for the cataloging and
tracking of toxic, chemical and hazardous substances; 3) development
of an Asbestos surveillance system; 4) development of a Lead surveillance
system; 5) implementation of an Agency-wide workers' compensation
case tracking system for reduction of Agency compensation costs;
and 6) development of manpower guidelines for the population supported,
exposures, and regulatory requirements.
FY 1998 plans are to continue to provide support to operational
medicine activities for the Space Shuttle and NASA/Mir missions
and to conduct medical requirements reviews in preparation for
the ISS era. It will continue to evaluate new technologies that
will support these activities, and ensure appropriate systems
are in place to enhance mission success. Activities at the SBC
will continue. Support of the Aerospace Medicine Project will
continue to ensure the development of medical requirements and
assessment of medical risks, establishment of priorities for medical
research, and development of medical flight policies in support
of all U.S. spaceflight programs including Shuttle, NASA/Mir,
the ISS, and future exploration missions. Activities of the CSC
for Informatics and Medical Technologies will continue. Efforts
with the Multilateral Medical Policy Board and Multilateral Medical
Operations Working Group will continue. Investments in collaborative
activities with academia, other agencies, and industry in the
application of emerging technologies in communications and information
systems to health care for space flight will continue.
FY 1998 plans for the Occupational Health Program include: 1) the continued operation of the Occupational Health Executive Council with a Health, Environmental Management, and Safety subcommittee to ensure Agency-wide uniformity of programs and compliance with externally mandated laws and regulations; 2) updating and coordination of an Agency-wide Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) system for the cataloging and tracking of toxic, chemical and hazardous substances; 3) monitoring of an Asbestos surveillance system; 4) monitoring of a Lead surveillance system; 5) oversight of an Agency-wide workers' compensation case tracking system for reduction of Agency compensation costs; and 6) phased implementation of manpower guidelines for the population supported, exposures, and regulatory