Skip to main content

Review of NASA Plans for the International Space Station (2006) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

Executive Summary
Pages 1-5

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 1...
... The ISS currently carries a reduced crew of two, and NASA is considering scenarios for increasing it to six in 2009 or 2015, with 2008 being the earliest date that the ISS might be capable of sustaining a crew of six. NASA currently defines the mission objectives for the ISS in support of extended crewed exploration of space as follows: · Develop and test technologies for exploration spacecraft systems, · Develop techniques to maintain crew health and performance on missions beyond low Earth orbit, and · Gain operational experience that can be applied to exploration missions.
Read the entire page →
From page 2...
... As described in the report, these priority areas of research on the ISS include: · Effects of radiation on biological systems, · Loss of bone and muscle mass during spaceflight, · Psychosocial and behavioral risks of long-term space missions, · Individual variability in mitigating a medical/biological risk, · Fire safety aboard spacecraft, and · Multiphase flow and heat transfer issues in space technology operations. This list is by no means comprehensive and includes at least some areas that have been considered, if not necessarily implemented, in one more of the NASA ISS planning studies reviewed by the panel.
Read the entire page →
From page 3...
... Such a planning effort should explicitly encompass the full development of the Exploration Systems Architecture Study technology requirements, migration of current ISS payloads to meet those requirements, identification of remaining gaps unfilled by current ISS payloads, and the R&D and technology or operations payloads needed to fill those gaps. An iterative process that includes Exploration Systems Mission Directorate stakeholders and the external scientific and technical community should be employed to ensure that the as-flown experiments closely match the integrated ISS utilization plan.
Read the entire page →
From page 4...
... Recommendation: NASA should plan options and decision points for obtaining a post-shuttle logistics capability for maintaining the ISS facility, for supporting the flight crew and research, and for demonstrating the technology and operations that will enable exploration missions. NASA should establish priorities and develop back-up plans to enable the post-2010 deployment of large ISS structural components and the research facilities required to accomplish exploration mission objectives.
Read the entire page →
From page 5...
... 2006. A Risk Reduction Strategy for Human Exploration of Space.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • human exploration
  • utilization plan
  • iss utilization
  • iss structural
  • panel noted

  • space station
  • operations demonstrations
  • structural components
  • iss planning
  • current iss

  • exploration mission
  • iss payloads
  • missions beyond
  • mars mission
  • international space

  • maintain crew
  • risk reduction
  • beyond low
  • research modules
  • earth orbit

  • reduce risks
  • low earth
  • reduction strategy
  • crew health
  • iss activities

  • enable exploration
  • iss research
  • iss configuration
  • support exploration
  • integrated iss


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.