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Committee for the Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space
Space Studies Board
Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council,
whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and
the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences
and with regard for appropriate balance.
This study is based on work supported by Contracts NNH05CC16C and NNH10CC48B between the National Academy of
Sciences and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations
expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agency that provided
support for the project.
International Standard Book Number-3: 978-0-309-16384-2
International Standard Book Number-0: 0-309-16384-6
Copies of this report are available free of charge from:
Space Studies Board
National Research Council
500 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001
Additional copies of this report are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Lockbox 285, Wash -
ington, DC 20055; (800) 624-2422 or (202) 334-3133 (in the Washington metropolitan area); Internet, http://www.nap.edu.
Copyright 2011 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
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The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in sci -
entific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare.
Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the
federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as
a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members,
sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy
of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and
recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent
members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute
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The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad com -
munity of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government.
Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating
agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the gov -
ernment, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies
and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the
National Research Council.
www.nationalacademies.org
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OTHER RECENT REPORTS OF THE SPACE STUDIES BOARD AND
THE AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ENGINEERING BOARD
Assessment of Impediments to Interagency Collaboration on Space and Earth Science Missions (Space Studies Board
[SSB], 2011)
Panel Reports—New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics (BPA and SSB, 2011)
Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 [prepublication version] (SSB, 2011)
Advancing Aeronautical Safety: A Review of NASA’s Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs (Aeronautics and Space
Engineering Board [ASEB], 2010)
Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research (Laboratory Assessments Board
[LAB] with SSB and ASEB, 2010)
Controlling Cost Growth of NASA Earth and Space Science Missions (SSB, 2010)
Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth-Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies (SSB with ASEB, 2010)
An Enabling Foundation for NASA’s Space and Earth Science Missions (SSB, 2010)
Life and Physical Sciences Research for a New Era of Space Exploration: An Interim Report (SSB with ASEB, 2010)
New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics (Board on Physics and Astronomy [BPA] and SSB, 2010)
Report of the Panel on Implementing Recommendations from the New Worlds, New Horizons Decadal Survey [prepublica -
tion version] (BPA and SSB, 2010)
Revitalizing NASA’s Suborbital Program: Advancing Science, Driving Innovation, and Developing a Workforce (SSB,
2010)
America’s Future in Space: Aligning the Civil Space Program with National Needs (SSB with ASEB, 2009)
Approaches to Future Space Cooperation and Competition in a Globalizing World: Summary of a Workshop (SSB with
ASEB, 2009)
An Assessment of NASA’s National Aviation Operations Monitoring Service (ASEB, 2009)
Assessment of Planetary Protection Requirements for Mars Sample Return Missions (SSB, 2009)
Fostering Visions for the Future: A Review of the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (ASEB, 2009)
Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies: Interim Report (SSB with ASEB, 2009)
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program (SSB, 2009)
Radioisotope Power Systems: An Imperative for Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Space Exploration (SSB with ASEB, 2009)
Assessing the Research and Development Plan for the Next Generation Air Transportation System: Summary of a Workshop
(ASEB, 2008)
A Constrained Space Exploration Technology Program: A Review of NASA’s Exploration Technology Development Pro -
gram (ASEB, 2008)
Ensuring the Climate Record from the NPOESS and GOES-R Spacecraft: Elements of a Strategy to Recover Measurement
Capabilities Lost in Program Restructuring (SSB, 2008)
Launching Science: Science Opportunities Provided by NASA’s Constellation System (SSB with ASEB, 2008)
Managing Space Radiation Risk in the New Era of Space Exploration (ASEB, 2008)
NASA Aeronautics Research: An Assessment (ASEB, 2008)
Opening New Frontiers in Space: Choices for the Next New Frontiers Announcement of Opportunity (SSB, 2008)
Review of NASA’s Exploration Technology Development Program: An Interim Report (ASEB, 2008)
Science Opportunities Enabled by NASA’s Constellation System: Interim Report (SSB with ASEB, 2008)
Severe Space Weather Events—Understanding Societal and Economic Impacts: A Workshop Report (SSB, 2008)
Space Science and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations: Summary of a Workshop (SSB, 2008)
United States Civil Space Policy: Summary of a Workshop (SSB with ASEB, 2008)
Wake Turbulence: An Obstacle to Increased Air Traffic Capacity (ASEB, 2008)
Limited copies of SSB reports are available free of charge from
Space Studies Board
National Research Council
The Keck Center of the National Academies
500 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20001
(202) 334-4777/ssb@nas.edu
www.nationalacademies.org/ssb/ssb.html
iv
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COMMITTEE FOR THE DECADAL SURVEY ON BIOLOGICAL AND
PHYSICAL SCIENCES IN SPACE
ELIZABETH R. CANTWELL, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Co-chair
WENDY M. KOHRT, University of Colorado, Denver, Co-chair
LARS BERGLUND, University of California, Davis
NICHOLAS P. BIGELOW, University of Rochester
LEONARD H. CAVENY, Independent Consultant, Fort Washington, Maryland
VIJAY K. DHIR, University of California, Los Angeles
JOEL E. DIMSDALE, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine
NIKOLAOS A. GATSONIS, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
SIMON GILROY, University of Wisconsin-Madison
BENJAMIN D. LEVINE, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
RODOLFO R. LLINAS,* New York University Medical Center
KATHRYN V. LOGAN, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
PHILIPPA MARRACK,† National Jewish Health
GABOR A. SOMORJAI, University of California, Berkeley
CHARLES M. TIPTON, University of Arizona
JOSE L. TORERO, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
ROBERT WEGENG, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
GAYLE E. WOLOSCHAK, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
ANIMAL AND HUMAN BIOLOGY PANEL
KENNETH M. BALDWIN, University of California, Irvine, Chair
FRANÇOIS M. ABBOUD, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
PETER R. CAVANAGH, University of Washington
V. REGGIE EDGERTON, University of California, Los Angeles
DONNA MURASKO, Drexel University
JOHN T. POTTS, JR., Massachusetts General Hospital
APRIL E. RONCA, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
CHARLES M. TIPTON, University of Arizona
CHARLES H. TURNER,‡ Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis
JOHN B. WEST, University of California, San Diego
APPLIED PHYSICAL SCIENCES PANEL
PETER W. VOORHEES, Northwestern University, Chair
NIKOLAOS A. GATSONIS, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
RICHARD T. LAHEY, JR., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RICHARD M. LUEPTOW, Northwestern University
JOHN J. MOORE, Colorado School of Mines
ELAINE S. ORAN, Naval Research Laboratory
AMY L. RECHENMACHER, University of Southern California
JAMES S. T’IEN, Case Western Reserve University
MARK M. WEISLOGEL, Portland State University
* Through mid-December 2009.
† Through mid-May 2010.
‡ Deceased July 2010.
v
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FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICAL SCIENCES PANEL
ROBERT V. DUNCAN, University of Missouri, Chair
NICHOLAS P. BIGELOW, University of Rochester
PAUL M. CHAIKIN, New York University
RONALD G. LARSON, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
W. CARL LINEBERGER, University of Colorado, Boulder
RONALD WALSWORTH, Harvard University
HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND MENTAL HEALTH PANEL
THOMAS J. BALKIN, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Chair
JOEL E. DIMSDALE, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine
NICK KANAS, University of California, San Francisco
GLORIA R. LEON, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
LAWRENCE A. PALINKAS, University of Southern California
MRIGANKA SUR,§ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
INTEGRATIVE AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH FOR THE HUMAN SYSTEMS PANEL
JAMES A. PAWELCZYK, Pennsylvania State University, Chair
ALAN R. HARGENS, University of California, San Diego
ROBERT L. HELMREICH, University of Texas, Austin (retired)
JOANNE R. LUPTON, Texas A&M University, College Station
CHARLES M. OMAN, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
DAVID ROBERTSON, Vanderbilt University
SUZANNE M. SCHNEIDER, University of New Mexico
GAYLE E. WOLOSCHAK, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
PLANT AND MICROBIAL BIOLOGY PANEL
TERRI L. LOMAX, North Carolina State University, Chair
PAUL BLOUNT, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
ROBERT J. FERL, University of Florida
SIMON GILROY, University of Wisconsin-Madison
E. PETER GREENBERG, University of Washington School of Medicine
TRANSLATION TO SPACE EXPLORATION SYSTEMS PANEL
JAMES P. BAGIAN, U.S. Air Force and University of Michigan, Chair
FREDERICK R. BEST, Texas A&M University, College Station
DAVID C. BYERS,§ Independent Consultant, Torrance, California
LEONARD H. CAVENY, Independent Consultant, Fort Washington, Maryland
MICHAEL B. DUKE, Colorado School of Mines (retired)
JOHN P. KIZITO, North Carolina A&T State University
DAVID Y. KUSNIERKIEWICZ, Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory
E. THOMAS MAHEFKEY, JR., Heat Transfer Technology Consultants
DAVA J. NEWMAN, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
§ Through mid-December 2009.
vi
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RICHARD J. ROBY, Combustion Science and Engineering, Inc.
GUILLERMO TROTTI, Trotti and Associates, Inc.
ALAN WILHITE, Georgia Institute of Technology
STAFF
SANDRA J. GRAHAM, Senior Program Officer, Space Studies Board, Study Director
ALAN C. ANGLEMAN, Senior Program Officer, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
IAN W. PRYKE, Senior Program Officer, Space Studies Board
ROBERT L. RIEMER,¶ Senior Program Officer, Board on Physics and Astronomy
MAUREEN MELLODY, Program Officer, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
REGINA NORTH, Consultant, Washington, D.C.
CATHERINE A. GRUBER, Editor, Space Studies Board
LEWIS GROSWALD, Research Associate, Space Studies Board
DANIELLE JOHNSON-BLAND,¶ Senior Program Assistant, Committee on Law and Justice
LAURA TOTH,¶ Senior Program Assistant, National Materials Advisory Board
LINDA M. WALKER, Senior Program Assistant, Space Studies Board
ERIC WHITAKER,¶ Senior Program Assistant, Computer Science and Telecommunications Board
MICHAEL H. MOLONEY, Director, Space Studies Board, and Director, Aeronautics and Space Engineering
Board
¶ Staff from other National Research Council boards who assisted with the survey.
vii
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SPACE STUDIES BOARD
CHARLES F. KENNEL, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, Chair
JOHN KLINEBERG, Space Systems/Loral (retired), Vice Chair
MARK R. ABBOTT, Oregon State University
STEVEN J. BATTEL, Battel Engineering
YVONNE C. BRILL, Aerospace Consultant
ELIZABETH R. CANTWELL, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
ANDREW B. CHRISTENSEN, Dixie State College and Aerospace Corporation
ALAN DRESSLER, Observatories of the Carnegie Institution
JACK D. FELLOWS, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
HEIDI B. HAMMEL, Space Science Institute
FIONA A. HARRISON, California Institute of Technology
ANTHONY C. JANETOS, University of Maryland
JOAN JOHNSON-FREESE, Naval War College
ROBERT P. LIN, University of California, Berkeley
MOLLY K. MACAULEY, Resources for the Future
JOHN F. MUSTARD, Brown University
ROBERT T. PAPPALARDO, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
JAMES PAWELCZYK, Pennsylvania State University
MARCIA J. RIEKE, University of Arizona
DAVID N. SPERGEL, Princeton University
WARREN M. WASHINGTON, National Center for Atmospheric Research
CLIFFORD M. WILL, Washington University
THOMAS H. ZURBUCHEN, University of Michigan
MICHAEL H. MOLONEY, Director (from April 1, 2010)
RICHARD E. ROWBERG, Interim Director (from March 2, 2009, to March 31, 2010)
MARCIA S. SMITH, Director (until March 1, 2009)
CARMELA J. CHAMBERLAIN, Administrative Coordinator
TANJA PILZAK, Manager, Program Operations
CELESTE A. NAYLOR, Information Management Associate
CHRISTINA O. SHIPMAN, Financial Officer
SANDRA WILSON, Financial Assistant
viii
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AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ENGINEERING BOARD
RAYMOND S. COLLADAY, Lockheed Martin Astronautics (retired), Chair
LESTER LYLES, The Lyles Group, Vice Chair
ELLA M. ATKINS, University of Michigan
AMY L. BUHRIG, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group
INDERJIT CHOPRA, University of Maryland, College Park
JOHN-PAUL B. CLARKE, Georgia Institute of Technology
RAVI B. DEO, EMBR
VIJAY DHIR, University of California, Los Angeles
EARL H. DOWELL, Duke University
MICA R. ENDSLEY, SA Technologies
DAVID GOLDSTON, Harvard University
R. JOHN HANSMAN, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
JOHN B. HAYHURST, Boeing Company (retired)
WILLIAM L. JOHNSON, California Institute of Technology
RICHARD KOHRS, Independent Consultant
IVETT LEYVA, Air Force Research Laboratory, Edwards Air Force Base
ELAINE S. ORAN, Naval Research Laboratory
ALAN G. POINDEXTER, Naval Postgraduate School
HELEN R. REED, Texas A&M University
ELI RESHOTKO, Case Western Reserve University
EDMOND SOLIDAY, United Airlines (retired)
MICHAEL H. MOLONEY, Director (from April 1, 2010)
RICHARD E. ROWBERG, Interim Director (from March 2, 2009, to March 31, 2010)
MARCIA S. SMITH, Director (until March 1, 2009)
CARMELA J. CHAMBERLAIN, Administrative Coordinator
TANJA PILZAK, Manager, Program Operations
CELESTE A. NAYLOR, Information Management Associate
CHRISTINA O. SHIPMAN, Financial Officer
SANDRA WILSON, Financial Assistant
ix
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Preface
In May 2009, the National Research Council’s (NRC) Committee for the Decadal Survey on Biological and
Physical Sciences in Space began a series of meetings initiated as a result of the following language in the explana -
tory statement accompanying the FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161):
Achieving the goals of the Exploration Initiative will require a greater understanding of life and physical sciences
phenomena in microgravity as well as in the partial gravity environments of the Moon and Mars. Therefore, the
Administrator is directed to enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council to conduct a “decadal
survey” of life and physical sciences research in microgravity and partial gravity to establish priorities for research
for the 2010-020 decade.
In response to this language, a statement of task for an NRC study was developed in consultation with mem -
bers of the life and physical sciences communities, NASA, and congressional staff. The guiding principle of the
study was to set an agenda for research in the next decade that would use the unique characteristics of the space
environment to address complex problems in the life and physical sciences, so as to deliver both new knowledge
and practical benefits for humankind as it embarks on a new era of space exploration. Specifically, the decadal
survey committee was asked to define research areas, recommend a research portfolio and a timeline for conducting
that research, identify facility and platform requirements as appropriate, provide rationales for suggested program
elements, define dependencies among research objectives, identify terrestrial benefits, and specify whether the
results of the research would directly enable exploration or would produce fundamental new knowledge. The
research areas identified were to be categorized as either (1) required to enable exploration missions or (2) enabled
or facilitated because of exploration missions. The complete statement of task for the study is given in Appendix
A of this report.
As one of its earliest tasks, the committee divided the broad spectrum of relevant disciplines and charge ele -
ments into seven broad focus areas and organized the following study panels to address each theme:
• Animal and Human Biology Panel,
• Applied Physical Sciences Panel,
• Fundamental Physical Sciences Panel,
• Human Behavior and Mental Health Panel,
• Integrative and Translational Research for Human Systems Panel,
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xii PREFACE
• Plant and Microbial Biology Panel, and
• Translation to Space Exploration Systems Panel.
The level of integration between the committee and the panels, and among many of the panels, was excep -
tionally high throughout the study. In general, the panels had primary responsibility for gathering data on the
status of the relevant research areas, performing analysis, and developing a chapter in their assigned theme area;
the committee provided continuous direction and feedback to the panels, integrated the input of the panels, and
developed the chapters that responded directly to the statement of task. The report is thus the product of the com -
mittee’s and the panels’ combined efforts. In addition to the expertise embodied in the committee and the panels,
broad community input was provided to the study at town hall meetings held in conjunction with professional
society meetings, in approximately 150 white papers submitted by individuals and teams from the community, *
and through numerous briefings and direct exchanges. Based on these inputs and its own deliberations, the com -
mittee in conjunction with the panels reviewed those areas of research that seemed most promising and selected
the research topics and themes that are discussed in this report.
Although decadal surveys are a long-standing tradition in many other fields supported by NASA, such as
astronomy and planetary science, this report represents the first decadal survey of NASA’s life and physical sci -
ences programs. In preparing it, the committee and its panels drew heavily on a number of past NRC studies that
looked at many of the disciplines represented in this study. Two such reports were considered foundation docu -
ments on which the current study has built but whose work it does not reproduce: The 1998 NRC report A Strategy
for Research in Space Biology and Medicine in the New Century provided a detailed assessment of the impact of
spaceflight on the minds and physiological systems of humans, as well as effects in plants and animals. The 2006
NRC report Microgravity Research in Support of Technologies for the Human Exploration and Development of
Space and Planetary Bodies examined the new capabilities that NASA would have to develop in order to explore
the solar system and identified the underlying physical processes on which these capabilities depended. Both
reports describe the phenomenological changes that occur—in biological systems and physical processes—at a
level of detail that the current report does not attempt to replicate. Readers interested in better understanding these
processes are referred to the two earlier studies.
This full survey report was preceded by the committee’s interim report, released in July 2010, titled Life and
Physical Sciences Research for a New Era of Space Exploration: An Interim Report (http://www.nap.edu/catalog.
php?record_id=12944). Drawing on preliminary analyses performed by the committee and its panels, that report
provided guidance on near-term programmatic issues related to the organization and management of the life and
physical sciences research enterprise at NASA. It also identified a number of broad topics that represent near-term
opportunities for research on the International Space Station. The guidance in the interim report is incorporated
into the more detailed examination of programmatic issues and research needs for all platforms in this full report.
* Available at http://www8.nationalacademies.org/SSBSurvey/PublicViewMicro.aspx.
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Acknowledgment of Reviewers
This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical
expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the Report Review Committee of the National Research
Council (NRC). The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist
the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional
standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft
manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following
individuals for their review of this report:
Andreas Acrivos, City College of the City University of New York;
Robert L. Ash, Old Dominion University;
Henry W. Brandhorst, Jr., Carbon-Free Energy, LLC;
Edward J. Britt, Pratt & Whitney Space Propulsion;
Jay C. Buckey, Jr., Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center;
Jonathan B. Clark, National Space Biomedical Research Institute;
Michael E. Fisher, University of Maryland;
Lennard A. Fisk, University of Michigan;
F. Andrew Gaffney, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine;
Kurt Gibble, Pennsylvania State University;
Roger Hangarter, Indiana University;
Kathryn D. Held, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School;
Edward W. Hodgson, Jr., Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation;
George M. Homsy, University of British Columbia;
Mamoru Ishii, Purdue University;
David M. Klaus, University of Colorado, Boulder;
Richard H. Kohrs, NASA (retired);
Rodolfo R. Llinas, New York University Medical Center;
Jay S. Loeffler, Massachusetts General Hospital;
David E. Longnecker, Association of American Medical Colleges;
Robert Marcus, Independent Consultant and Eli Lilly and Company (retired);
xiii
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xiv ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF REVIEWERS
Gail Martin, University of California, San Francisco;
Ralph Napolitano, Iowa State University;
Robert J. Naumann, University of Alabama, Huntsville;
Mary Jane Osborn, University of Connecticut Health Center;
William Paloski, University of Houston;
G. Kim Prisk, University of California, San Diego;
Emery I. Reeves, Independent Consultant and U.S. Air Force Academy (retired);
Danny A. Riley, Medical College of Wisconsin;
Gerald Sonnenfeld, Clemson University;
T. Peter Stein, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey;
Thomas G. Stoebe, University of Washington;
Pete Suedfeld, University of British Columbia (emeritus);
Peter B. Sunderland, University of Maryland;
George W. Swenson, Jr., University of Illinois;
Scott Tremaine, Institute for Advanced Study;
Russell Turner, Oregon State University;
Forman A. Williams, University of California, San Diego;
Eugene Wissler, University of Texas, Austin; and
A. Thomas Young, Lockheed Martin Corporation (retired).
Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were
not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its
release. The review of this report was overseen by Martha P. Haynes, Cornell University, and Laurence R. Young,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Appointed by the NRC, they were responsible for making certain that an
independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all
review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with
the authoring committee and the institution.
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Contents
SUMMARY 1
1 INTRODUCTION 11
The Exploration Imperative, 11
Study Context, Challenges, and Organization, 13
Organization of This Report, 13
References, 15
2 REVIEW OF NASA’S PROGRAM EVOLUTION IN THE LIFE 17
AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES IN LOW-GRAVITY AND MICROGRAVITY ENVIRONMENTS
Origin of the Research Program, 17
Evolution of the Research Mission, 18
The Apollo Program and Skylab, 18
Dedicated Life Sciences Missions on the Shuttle, 19
Dedicated Physical Sciences Missions on the Shuttle, 20
Current Status and Potential of the Life and Physical Sciences Research Programs, 20
References, 21
3 CONDUCTING MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH: U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL FACILITIES 23
International Space Station, 24
Facility-Class Payloads, 25
U.S. Partner ISS Facilities and Modules, 28
Laboratory Support Equipment, 29
Major ISS Facilities by Discipline, 29
Global Space Transportation Systems, 34
United States, 34
Russia, 36
Europe, 36
Japan, 37
xv
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xvi CONTENTS
Free-Flyers, 37
United States, 37
Europe, 37
Ground-Based Facilities, 38
General Types by Field of Research, 38
U.S. Ground-based Facilities, 39
European Ground-Based Facilities, 45
Russian Ground-Based Facilities, 49
Japanese Ground-Based Facilities, 49
Chinese Ground-Based Facilities, 50
References, 50
4 PLANT AND MICROBIAL BIOLOGY 57
The Role of Plant and Microbial Research in Exploring the Effects of Microgravity, 57
Research Issues, 58
Overview: The Need for Modern Analyses Applied to Model Systems, 58
Sensory Mechanisms I: Gravity Sensing and Response Mechanisms in Plants, 58
Sensory Mechanisms II: Gravity and Mechanical Sensing in Microbes, 60
Sensory Mechanisms III: Cells, 62
Radiation Effects on Plants and Microbes, 63
Plant and Microbial Growth Under Altered Atmospheric Pressures, 63
Spaceflight Syndrome I: Response to the Integrated Spaceflight Environment, 64
Spaceflight Syndrome II: Microbial Ecosystems and Environments, 65
Spaceflight Syndrome III: Changes in the Virulence of Pathogens, 66
Role of Plants and Microbes in Long-Term Life Support Systems, 67
Available and Needed Platforms, 69
Ground-Based Facilities, 69
Flight Platforms, 69
The Lunar Surface as a Platform, 70
Enabling Technologies, 71
Prioritized Research Recommendations, 71
Programmatic Issues and Recommendations, 73
References, 75
5 BEHAVIOR AND MENTAL HEALTH 81
Cognitive Functioning, 82
Cognitive Testing, 82
Specific Recommendations, 83
Individual Functioning, 84
Selection, 84
Personality Measures, 84
Training, 85
Psychological Symptoms, 85
Therapeutic Strategies, 86
Specific Recommendations, 87
Group Functioning, 88
Individual Factors, 89
Interpersonal Factors, 89
Autonomy and Other Environmentally Mediated Factors, 90
Leadership, 90
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xvii
CONTENTS
Tools and Facilities, 90
Interventions, 90
Training, 90
Specific Recommendations, 91
Sleep and Space, 91
Effects of Acute Sleep Loss, 92
Effects of Chronic Sleep Restriction, 92
Sleep and Resilience, 93
Specific Recommendations, 94
Highest-Priority Recommendations, 94
References, 95
6 ANIMAL AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 99
Research Issues, 100
Risks for Bone Loss During Long-Duration Space Missions, 100
Risks for Skeletal Muscle During Long-Duration Spaceflight, 106
Risks for Sensory-Motor and Vestibular Deficits During Long-Duration Spaceflight, 114
Effects of the Spaceflight Environment on Fluid Shifts, 119
Risks for the Cardiovascular System During Long-Duration Spaceflight, 125
Risks for Pulmonary Function During Long-Duration Space Missions, 136
Risks for Specific Endocrine Influences During Long-Duration Space Missions, 138
Effects of the Spaceflight Environment on the Immune System, 145
Reproduction and Development, 149
Merging of Disciplines to Study Gravity-Dependent Adaptations, 154
Research Priorities and Platforms, 156
Bone, 157
Skeletal Muscle, 157
Sensory-Motor Function, 158
Fluid Shifts, 158
Cardiovascular Function, 158
Pulmonary Function, 159
Immunology, 159
Reproduction and Development, 160
Research Platforms, 160
Overarching and Programmatic Issues, 161
The Need for Animal Research on the ISS and Other Space Platforms, 161
Recommendation Concerning the National Laboratory, 162
Animal Research on Other Platforms, 162
Improved Access to Biological Samples and Data from Astronauts, 163
Limitations of Ground-Based Facilities, 163
Limitations on Sample Delivery Back to Earth, 163
Space Platform for Research Beyond 2020 Will Be Needed, 163
Relevance of the Report to NASA Fundamental Space Biology Strategic Planning, 164
References, 165
7 CROSSCUTTING ISSUES FOR HUMANS IN THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT 205
Solving Integrative Biomedical Problems Through Translational Research, 206
Stress—Physical and Physiological Considerations, 206
Food, Nutrition, and Energy Balance, 213
Radiation Biology, 217
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Physical Inactivity, 221
Biological Sex/Gender Considerations, 222
Thermoregulation, 225
Increasing Translational Research in the Space/Life Sciences, 229
Implementation of a Clinical and Translational Science Framework, 229
The ISS and the U.S. National Laboratory as an Analog of a CTSA Clinical Research Unit, 231
Aspects of Clinical and Translational Science Applicable to Space Biomedical Research, 232
Overarching Issues and Gaps in the Knowledge Base, 233
Educating the Next Generation of Space Translational Scientists, 233
The Procurement Process and Its Effect on Flight Research, 234
International Collaboration Between Space Agencies, 234
Summary, 235
Stress, 235
Food, Nutrition, and Energy Balance, 236
Radiation Biology, 236
Biological Sex/Gender, 237
Thermoregulation, 237
Overarching Issue—Integrated Countermeasures Development, 237
References, 238
8 FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICAL SCIENCES IN SPACE 249
Research Issues, 250
Thrust I: Soft-Condensed-Matter Physics and Complex Fluids, 250
Thrust II: Precision Measurements of Fundamental Forces and Symmetries, 251
Thrust III: Quantum Gases, 253
Thrust IV: Condensed Matter and Critical Phenomena, 256
Available and Needed Platforms, 258
Ground-Based Research, 258
Aircraft and Drop Towers, 258
The International Space Station, 258
Free-Flying Spacecraft, 259
Lunar or Martian Bases, 259
Program Recommendations for Experiment-Specific Support Facilities on Various Platforms, 259
Research Program Recommendations, 260
Recommended Program Element 1: Research on Complex Fluids and Soft Matter (FP1), 260
Recommended Program Element 2: Research That Tests and Expands Understanding
of the Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of Nature (FP2), 261
Recommended Program Element 3: Research Related to the Physics and Applications of
Quantum Gases (FP3), 261
Recommended Program Element 4: Investigations of Matter in the Vicinity of Critical
Points (FP4), 261
Programmatic Conclusions, Findings, and Recommendations, 261
References, 262
9 APPLIED PHYSICAL SCIENCES 265
Fluid Physics, 266
Research in Support of NASA’s Exploration Missions, 268
Fundamental Research in Complex Fluid Physics, 272
Recommended Research in Fluid Physics, 273
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Combustion, 274
Research in Support of NASA’s Exploration Missions, 275
Fundamental Combustion Research, 275
Recommended Research in Combustion, 279
Materials Science, 280
Research in Support of NASA’s Exploration Missions, 280
Fundamental Materials Research, 283
Recommended Research in Materials Science, 285
Research Prioritization and Recommendations, 285
Fluid Physics Recommendations, 286
Combustion Recommendations, 287
Materials Science Recommendations, 287
Facilities, 287
Programmatic Recommendations, 291
References, 292
10 TRANSLATION TO SPACE EXPLORATION SYSTEMS 299
Research Issues and Technology Needs, 300
Space Power and Thermal Management, 300
Space Propulsion, 310
Extravehicular Activity Systems, 317
Life Support Systems, 323
Fire Safety, 325
Space Resource Extraction, Processing, and Utilization, 330
Planetary Surface Construction, 335
Summary and Conclusions, 345
References, 346
11 THE ROLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 355
Unique Status and Capabilities, 355
Areas of Research on the International Space Station, 356
Life Sciences Research on the ISS, 356
Physical Sciences Research on the ISS, 358
Utilizing the ISS for Research, 359
Caveats, 359
References, 360
12 ESTABLISHING A LIFE AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH PROGRAM: 361
PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES
Programmatic Issues for Strengthening the Research Enterprise, 362
Elevating the Priority of Life and Physical Sciences Research in Space Exploration, 362
Establishing a Stable and Sufficient Funding Base, 364
Improving the Process for Solicitation and Review of High-Quality Research, 367
Rejuvenating a Strong Pipeline of Intellectual Capital Through Training and Mentoring Programs, 368
Linking Science to Mission Capabilities Through Multidisciplinary Translational Programs, 369
Developing Commercial Sector Interactions to Advance Science, Technology, and
Economic Growth, 372
Synergies with Other National and International Agencies, 373
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Administrative Oversight of Life and Physical Sciences Research, 375
Summary, 375
References, 376
13 ESTABLISHING A LIFE AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH PROGRAM: 379
AN INTEGRATED MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH PORTFOLIO
Prioritizing Research, 380
Facility and Platform Requirements, 382
Ground-Based Research Platforms, 382
Analog Environments, 392
Flight Platforms, 392
Planetary or Lunar Surfaces as Platforms, 392
Space Platforms for Research Beyond 2020, 393
Highest-Priority Research Areas and Objectives, 393
Research Portfolio Selection Options, 393
Timeline for the Conduct of Research, 396
Impact of Science on Defining U.S. Space Exploration Policy, 397
References, 397
APPENDIXES
A Statement of Task 401
B Glossary and Selected Acronyms 403
C Committee, Panel, and Staff Biographical Information 421
