NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 20040001144: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Biological and Physical Research Enterprise Strategy

104 Pages·168.5 MB·English

by  NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

A Message from the Associate
Administrator for Biological and
Physical Research
October 1, 2003
Dear Colleagues and Friends:
As I reflect on the inspiration that the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia embodies for millions of people
around the world, I believe Administrator Sean O’Keefe captured it well when he said, “They gave their
lives for something they believed in completely: the peaceful pursuit of discovery.” Like the research
community they supported, the crew was diverse in background and culture yet united in the pursuit
of discovery. Reflecting the best in the human spirit, the crew sought to advance human exploration of
space and create new knowledge to help solve problems that face all of us on Earth every day-from
pollution to limited energy resources to cancer. As our researchers, administrators, and staff continue
with their contributions to the pursuit of discovery, for which these seven dedicated astronauts made
the ultimate sacrifice, they capitalize on the resources with which they are entrusted. Toward this end-
and in support of NASA’s mission “to understand and protect our home planet, to explore the universe
and search for life, and to inspire the next generation of explorers”-we within the Biological and
Physical Research Enterprise are developing a comprehensive strategy to guide and prioritize all research
and other activities throughout the Enterprise. The foundation of the strategy includes our 10-year
Enterprise research plan, input from the Enterprise research Community and staff, and advisory committee
reports. Here are a few highlights from the strategy:
We focus efforts to answer a clearly articulated set of organizing questions.
We measure our ability to realize excellence in technical and management
performance, research outcomes, and impact.
We look forward to new suites of missions providing regular opportunities
for research.
We employ and partner with a strong, diverse investigator community.
Five organizing questions are the basis for the Biological and Physical Research Enterprise Strategy: (1) How
can we assure the survival of humans traveling far from Earth? (2) How does life respond to gravity and
space environments? (3) What new opportunities can research bring to expand understanding of the
laws of nature and enrich lives on Farth? (4)W hat technology must we create to enable the next explorers
to go beyond where we have been? (5) How can we educate and inspire the next generation to take the
journey? The answers to these questions determine our research strategy, the platforms or programs to
execute the science, applications for the research, and the metria to measure progress. As we fulfill our
Enterprise strategy, we contribute in an integral way to realizing the NASA Vision: to improve life here,
to extend life to there, and to find life beyond. In doing so, the Enterprise helps not only our scientific,
educational, and industrial partners, but also citizens around the globe.
Mary E. Kicza
Associate Administrator for Biological and Physical Research
Acknowledaments
The NASA Biological and Physical Research Enterprise ‘Karen Blynn, Biological and Physical
would like to express appreciation for the work undertaken Research Enterprise
by the members of our science community to help formu- ‘Bradley Carpenter, Biological and Physical
late this Enterprise Strategy. Research Enterprise
Corky Clinton, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
University of Maryland Strategic Planning Workshop *Beth Craig, Biological and Physical Research Enterprise
Participants, June 2003 Roger Crouch, Biological and Physical
Research Enterprise
Joseph Alexander, Space Studies Board, National
Jeffrey Davis, Space Flight Enterprise
Research Council
*Guy Fogleman, Biological and Physical
Larry Austin, Starwalker Group
Research Enterprise
Kenneth Baldwin, University of California, Irvine
‘Elizabeth Gonzalez, Biological and Physical
Nicholas Bigelow, The University of Rochester
Research Enterprise
Jeffrey Borer, Cornell University Center
‘Lisa Guerra, Biological and Physical Research
David Boyle, Spacecraft Technology Center
Enterprise
Raymond Bula, University of Wisconsin, retired
Cliff Houston, NASA Office of Education
Thomas Daley, Philadelphia Naval Business Center
Ulf Israelsson, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Larry DeLucas, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Mary Kicza, Biological and Physical Research Enterprise
Charles Doarn, MITAC-VCU
*Candy Livingston, Biological and Physical
Gerard Faeth, University of Michigan
Research Enterprise
William Glenn, Florida State University
*Terri Lomax, Biological and Physical
Sandra Graham, Space Studies Board, National
Research Enterprise
Research Council
Gary Martin, NASA Office of the Space Architect
Leroy Gross, INTEL MED Inc.
Bernard Harris Jr., Vesalius Ventures ‘Bonnie McClain, Biological and Physical
Research Enterprise
J. Milburn “Kim” Jessup, Georgetown University
Joe Minafra, NASA Ames Research Center
Medical Center
Neal Pellis, NASA Johnson Space Center
Mohammed Kassemi, National Center for
Tony Ricco, NASA Ames Research Center
Microgravity Research
Howard Ross, Biological and Physical
Amy Kronenberg, Lawrence Berkeley National
Research Enterprise
Laboratory
Jack Salzman, NASA Glenn Research Center
*Lauren Leveton, Universities Space Research
Greg Schmidt, NASA Ames Research Center
Association
Salk Smith, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
George May, Institute for Technology Development
Ken Souza, NASA Ames Research Center
Alexander McPherson, Jr., University of California,
Charles Stegemoeller, NASA Johnson Space Center
Irvine
*Gene Trinh, Biological and Physical Research
Vedha Nayagam, National Center for
Enterprise
Microgravity Research
Mike Wargo, Biological and Physical Research
G. Paul Neitzel, Georgia Institute ofTechnology
Enterprise
Tony Overfelt, Auburn University
Elsa Porter, Meridian International Institute
One NASA Enterurise Planning Team
Fred Sack, Ohio State University
Jay Sanders, Global Telemedicine Group Junes J. Gorman, Education Enterprise
Frank Schowengerdt, Colorado School of Mines Lisa A. Guerra, Biological and Physical
Robert Sekerka, Carnegie Mellon University Research Enterprise
Gerald Sonnenfeld, Morehouse School of Medicine Jenny S. Kishiyama, Aerospace Technology Enterprise
Glenn Spaulding, Clear Lake Medical Foundations, Inc. Lisa D. May, Space Science Enterprise
Joshua Zimmerburg, National Institutes of Health Philip I.. Sunshine, Space Flight Enterprise
Gregory J. Williams, Earth Science Enterprise
*Elaine Akst, Biological and Physical Research
Enterprise Production Support
*Gale Allen, Biological and Physical Research Enterprise Melissa Kenncdy, Lead Graphic Designer
John Allen, Space Flight Enterprise Wes Horne, Lead Editor
Dan Barry, NASA Johnson Space Center Jeffrey McLean, Printing Specialist
Dolores Beasley, NASA Office of Public Affairs Nancy House, Technical Editor
‘Bonnie Blinebury, Biological and Physical
Research Enterprise * Enterprise Strategic I’hinnirrg Working Group
Table of Contents
1 Biological and Physical Research and NASA’s Vision and Mission ..................1
2 Role of the Biological and Physical Research Enterprise .......................... 5
3 Achieving Biological and Physical Research Objectives ......................... 11
Organizing Question 1: How can we assure the survival of humans traveling
far from Earth? .................................................... 15
Organizing Question 2: How does life respond to gravity and
space environments? ................................................ 31
Organizing Question 3: What new opportunities can research bring to expand
understanding of the laws of nature and enrich lives on Earth? ...............4 1
Organizing Question 4: What technology must we create to enable the next
explorers to go beyond where we have been? .............................. 55
Organizing Question 5: How can we educate and inspire the next generation
to take the journey? ................................................. 67
4 Strategy Implementation ................................................ 75
Human Resources .................................................. 75
Capital Resources .................................................. 76
Information Technology ............................................. 78
Competitive Sourcing ............................................... 78
Partnerships ....................................................... 78
Evaluation ....................................................... 83
Communications ................................................... 83
5 BeyondtheHorizon .................................................... 87
Appendices ............................................................ A-1
Appendix 1 Relationship to Agency Planning ............................ A-2
Appendix 2 Additional Information ................................... A-3
Appendix 3 Acronym List ........................................... A-5
Biological and Iii
Physical Research
and NASA's Vision I
and Mission

Biological and
Physical Research
and NASA's Vision
and Mission
As the 21st century begins, NASA's new Vision
and Mission focuses the Agency's Enterprises
toward exploration and discovery. The NASA
Vision is as compelling as it is succinct:
To improve life here,
To extend life to there,
To find life beyond.
The NASA Mission guides the Enterprises
toward achieving the Vision by calling us to
Understand and protect our home planet,
Explore the universe and search for life,
Inspire the next generation of explorers
. . .
as only NASA can.
The Biological and Physical Research Enterprise
has a unique and enabling role in support of the
Agency's Vision and Mission. Our strategic
research seeks innovations and solutions to enable
the extension of life into deep space safely and
productively. Our fundamental research, as well
as our research partnerships with industry and
other agencies, allow new knowledge and tech-
nologies to bring improvements to life on Earth.
Our interdisciplinary research in the unique labo-
ratory of microgravity addresses opportunities and
challenges on our home planet as well as in space
environments. The Enterprise maintains a key role
in encouraging and engaging the next generation
of explorers from primary school through the grad-
uate level via our direct student participation in
space research.
Bioiooicai and Physical Research
and NASA's Vision and Mission
The NASA Strategic Plan establishes seven strategic reduced gravity, and isolation. The biological sciences
goals and three enabling goals to execute the Agency’s research theme is also responsible for the develop-
mission. Each of the Enterprises defines its programs ment of human support systems technology as
according to these goals and focuses management well as fundamental biological research spanning
accountability through its designated budget topics from genomics to ecologies. The physical
themes. The Biological and Physical Research sciences research theme supports research that
Enterprise has primary and supporting responsi- takes advantage of the space environment to
bility for particular goals as indicated in table 1.1. expand our understanding of the fundamental
laws of nature. This theme also supports applied
As depicted in table 1.1, the Biological and physical sciences research to improve safety and
Physical Research Enterprise encompasses three performance of humans in space. The research
themes. The biological sciences research theme partnerships and flight support theme establishes
investigates ways to support a safe human presence policies and allocates space resources to encourage
in space. This theme addresses the definition and and develop entrepreneurial partners’ access to
control of physiological and psychological risks from space research.
the space environment, including radiation,
Table 1.1
1
I
BIoksrcal W ! I
w __- ... ... .1 I .R.s..c.e..is..e.e.n.a. crecsh :L, - .RSec.sieen.acrec sh .ii. ..a.snu.dp .n-p iog.r.ht. t .I
1h derstand and protect 1. Understand Earth’s system and apply Earth system science to
Ci ur home planet improve tfie p.-re_ di_cti_on- o.f _di-m-a-t-e-, w-e__a_ th..e_r,_ a.nId_ _n.a.t_u .-.r...a .l hazards.
2. Enable a safer and more secure, efficient, and environmentally
friendly air transportations ystem.
.-?. C ..rp--n_te -a- r.....n.......n...... re sectire wnrld a-.n .d... ..i rnn.r..n....v e the ntialii nf life hv
investing in technology and collaborating with ~o ther agencies,
industry, and academic institutions.
--___
Explore the universe and 4. Explore the fundamental principles of physics, chemistry,
%arch for life and biology through research in the unique natural laboratory
of soace.
5. Explore the solar system and the universe beyond, under-
stand the origin and evolution of life, and search for evi-
dence of lie elsewhere.
pursue careers in science,
of expl thematics. -~
/-
---I_
g and sharing the experience of i o I o I o l
exploration and discovery.
n of space access and improve it by
liability, and affordability.
__._-__ __l_-____l
Extend the duration and boundaries of human space fli
nities for exploration and disco
I----
j 10. Enable revolutionary capabilitiest hrough new technolo
0
Primary Contribution Supporting Contribution
*
Blological and Physical Research
Enterprlse Strategy
Role of the
Biological and
Physical Research
Enterprise