Advanced Technology for Human Support in Space (1997)

Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of Advanced Concepts and Technology and the Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications

The Office of Advanced Concepts and Technology (OACT) and the Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications (OLMSA) have significant interests in the development of programs of space human factors and advanced life support systems for intravehicular (IVA) and extravehicular activities (EVA). The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to delineate the areas of responsibility for the management of programs in space human factors and advanced life support, so that the development of these programs can be accomplished in a timely, cost-effective, and collaborative manner.

Under terms of this MOU, the OACT Advanced Life Support Program, inclusive of IVA and EVA systems, and the Space Human Factors R&T Program will be transferred to OLMSA, along with funding (FY94-FY98), as are agreed.

OLMSA will have the prime responsibility for the planning and implementation of an integrated program of research and technology development of advanced life support systems and space human factors in support of NASA programs in human space flight. In cooperation with OLMSA, OACT will have the responsibility for supporting this program through breakthrough technology development. OLMSA will manage the EVA programs in cooperation with the Office of Space Flight to assure effective, relevant, and timely EVA systems development.

OLMSA will merge the transferred OACT Advanced Life Support Program with the current OLMSA Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) Program and Environmental Sensing and Control Program into a single Advanced IVA Life Support Program. The OACT program elements to be transferred are those within the Human Support RTOP (UPN 506-71) including: Life Support Chemical Processing (506-71-21), Sensors and Controls (506-71-41), and Wind Tunnels and Technical Facilities (506-71-84).

This integrated program will have responsibility for research and technology development for all phases of life support systems for microgravity and planetary surface applications and will have responsibilities for all phases of life support systems development through systems engineering and integration and flight testing of prototype systems.

OLMSA will merge the OACT EVA Systems Program with the current OLMSA activities in EVA into a single Advanced EVA Systems Program. The OACT program elements to be transferred are those within the Human Support RTOP (UPN 506-71) including: Space Suit Technology (506-71-11) and Portable Life Support (506-71-31). This integrated program will have responsibility for research and development for all phases of advanced life support systems for microgravity and planetary surface applications and will have responsibilities for all phases of life support systems development through systems engineering and flight testing of prototype systems in cooperation with the Office of Space Flight.

OACT will complete the IN-STEP Electrolysis Performance Improvement Concepts Study (EPICS) experiment (UPN 506-74-21), including post-flight data analysis, and make all results available to OLMSA.

OACT will complete the evaluation and selection of proposals submitted in response to the 1992 In-Space Technology Experiments Program (IN-STEP)

Announcement of Opportunity. Any proposals selected by OACT in the area of Advanced Life Support or Space Human Factors that OLMSA desires to implement, with the intent to complete through flight, will be transferred to OLMSA along with the funding required to implement the Phase A contract(s). OACT funding liability for those experiments is limited to the Phase A cost. In addition, OACT will send copies of all proposals submitted in the Advanced Life Support and Space Human Factors areas to OLMSA, at their request. OLMSA may review any proposals selected for Phase A award as a result of the 1992 IN-STEP Announcement of Opportunity to consider if they wish to assume cognizance over those activities. In the event that OLMSA intends to conduct the experiment(s) through flight, OACT will eliminate those proposals from further consideration in IN-STEP and will transfer to OLMSA all relevant documentation. OACT will determine the future disposition of any remaining proposals selected for IN-STEP award. No funding will be transferred to Code U for conducting experiments, since there is none presently allocated to this (or any) technology category except that allocated for the Phase A awards.

OLMSA will have responsibility for Space Human Factors research programs. OLMSA will form a single integrated Space Human Factors program to assure human health, safety, general well-being and high levels of performance in space and on planetary surfaces. OACT will coordinate future technology requirements in this area with OLMSA.

IV.A. OLMSA will be responsible for implementation of all phases of the Space Human Factors R&T, IVA Life Support, and EVA Systems Programs. Specifically, OLMSA will:

IV.A. 1. Formulate Program Plans through a team approach drawing on scientific and engineering expertise at Headquarters, Field Centers, and Universities.

IV.A.2. Establish science and technology requirements and priorities as necessary to initiate and complete implementation of the Program Plans.

IV.A.3. Identify candidate state-of-the-art technologies, conduct ground and flight research, and develop and test subsystems as well as integrated systems.

IV.A.4. Prepare Headquarters budget submissions, congressional testimony, formal technical documentation, educational and technology spin-off material, and other documentation to support the Programs.

IV.A.5. Draw on international expertise and experience of existing flight life support systems. Conduct technical discussions with U.S. and foreign space

agencies, international science and engineering organizations, and individual foreign investigators and managers who plan to contribute to or use ground or flight-based facilities for research in life support and human factors.

IV.A.6. Identify, in concert with OACT, requirements for new and novel breakthrough technologies not available through commercial sources to assure the continued enhancement of life support system performance.

IV.A.7. Identify, in concert with OACT, technologies within the OLMSA IVA and EVA life support and human factors programs that have useful application to OACT technology programs and cooperate with OACT to infuse these advances into relevant OACT programs.

IV-B. OACT will have responsibility for:

IV.B.1. Research and development on breakthrough technologies that can significantly improve the performance or reduce the cost and risk of human factors and IVA and EVA life support systems.

IV.B.2. Inclusion of Space Human Factors R&T, IVA Life Support, and EVA Systems opportunities in the Small Business Innovation Research Program managed by OACT.

OLMSA will work with OACT to identify dual-use technologies, collaborate in programs of technology transfer, and will hold periodic joint meetings to discuss the status of the Programs and to initiate activities of mutual benefit.

Consistent with the transfer of the OACT Advanced Life Support Program, EVA Systems Program, and Human Factors Engineering Program to OLMSA, funding (FY94-FY98) will he transferred as agreed.