Space Studies Board Annual Report 2006 (2007) / Chapter Skim
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7.2 NASA Budget and Programs: Outside Perspectives
7.2 NASA Budget and Programs: Outside Perspectives
Pages 114-120
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From page 114... ...
Taskforce. More recently I helped evaluate NASA's Bioastronautics Research Program for the Institute of Medicine, NASA's International Space Station Research Plan for the National Research Council, and the progress of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI)
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From page 115... ...
When we completed our task, highest priority was assigned to 13 areas that informed two broad, often overlapping, goals: One is the category of intrinsic scientific importance or impact; research that illuminates our place in the universe, but cannot be accomplished in a terrestrial environment. The other goal values research that enables long-term human exploration of space beyond low-earth orbit, and develops effective countermeasures to mitigate the potentially damaging effects of long-term exposure to the space environment.
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From page 116... ...
Since the days of Skylab NASAfunded investigators conducted an aggressive and successful biological research program that was robust, comprehensive, and internationally recognized. Beginning with those early efforts, and continuing with our international partners on the Mir and the International Space Station, we have built a knowledge base that defines the rate at which humans adapt during spaceflight up to six-months duration, with four data points exceeding one-year duration.
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From page 117... ...
• econd, articulate a timeframe for delivering and completing a risk mitigation plan for humans exploring S the Moon and Mars, and vet both the plan and the timeframe with the external scientific community. • T ird, develop a comprehensive plan for conducting research on board the International Space Station with h out the space shuttle, including addition of essential equipment for animal research, deployment of a crew of at least six people, and logistics that are sufficient to keep these crews safe and supplied.
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From page 118... ...
On the basis of an analysis of the citations of the papers published, prominence of journals in which the papers appeared, the influence of the research on the content of textbooks, documented influence on industry and the quality of the investigators in the program, we found that the microgravity program has had a significant impact on the fields of which it was a part. For example, 37 members of the fluids program were fellows of the American Physical Society, the materials science program produced some of the most highly cited papers in the area of solidification and crystal growth, and the fundamental physics program was funding six Nobel laureates.
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From page 119... ...
A vibrant physical sciences research program is the key to successfully accomplishing the President's Vision for Space Exploration, since important technology required for space exploration is controlled by gravitationally related phenomena that are poorly understood. This lack of understanding hampers the design of a vast array of devices such as those for heat transfer, the prevention and detection of fires, fluid handling, controlling the transport and movement of Lunar and Martian soils, and materials repair such as brazing and welding, among many others.
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From page 120... ...
Physics based simulation codes exist for fires in Earth-based structures, but none exist for micro or partial gravity environments. Given our lack of understanding of how fires behave in microgravity environments and the critical importance of this to the human exploration effort, I can think of few stronger rationales for a vigorous combustion research program.
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