Toward a Microgravity Research Strategy (1992) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
3 The Conduct of Microgravity Research
3 The Conduct of Microgravity Research
Pages 9-16
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 9... ...
Furthermore, the data from an experiment are often contained in a specimen that has been synthesized or processed, thus requiring complete characterization of the specimen before continuing with the next experiment, Sometimes statistical design of experiments involving multiple .samples and varied parameters can be used to increase efficiency, but this requires reproducibility and parameters that are well controlled, a rarity for space experiments so far. file:///C|/SSB_old_web/cmgr92ch3.htm (1 of 9)
|
From page 10... ...
MANNED VERSUS ROBOTIC INTERACTION It is possible to conduct microgravity experiments in a number of modes, the extremes being continuous manned interaction (similar to laboratory work on Earth) and robotic interaction (full intelligent automation)
|
From page 11... ...
Since microgravity research is in an embryonic stage, it is difficult to rely on any one facility for experimentation. Drop tubes and towers, aircraft flying parabolic trajectories, and sounding rockets provide test periods of several seconds to a few minutes.
|
From page 12... ...
Orbital facilities include the Space Shuttle, recoverable capsules launched on expendable vehicles, free-flying spacecraft, and space stations. These facilities offer enhanced resources in terms of volume, power, cooling, crew time, and data management, but, most importantly, they enable test times to be extended to days and perhaps weeks (for an Extended Duration Orbiter)
|
From page 13... ...
A list of the joint arrangements as of 1989 can be found in the NRC's Report of the Committee on a Commercially Developed Space Facility.1 As of the present time, no commercial endeavors have matured to the stage that there are full paying customers for space transportation and operation services, In addition to space experiment incentives, NASA's Office of Commercial Programs, in cooperation with industry, has established centers at several universities for the development of commercial space experiments.2 Started in 1986, these centers for the commercial development of space (CCDS) were given a five-year period in which to become independent by attracting increased industrial funding.
|
From page 14... ...
There is competition between scarce spaceflight opportunities and the university research funded by NASA's Division of Microgravity Science and Applications. The zeal to provide commercial "customers" priority access to space may jeopardize opportunities for worthy space experiments that have been on hold for a long time.
|
From page 15... ...
The CMGR recommends that NASA apply a set of value criteria and measurement indicators to define the research and analysis program more clearly. Some of the value criteria and indicators that .should be used for the new R&A program are as follows: Value criteria -- relevance to other science -- significance of potential contributions to important scientific questions -- past experience and track record of investigators -- ability to develop adequate plans and well-understood requirements for space experiments -- scope of effort needed to achieve significant results.
|
From page 16... ...
. The CMGR recommends that the funding level for research and analysis in microgravity science be established as a fixed percentage of the total program of NASA's Microgravity Science and Applications Division in order to build a strong scientific base for future experiments.
|
Key Terms
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.