International utilization at the threshold of "assembly complete"science returns from the International Space Station (original) (raw)
Related papers
Acta Astronautica, 2014
Throughout the history of the International Space Station (ISS), crews on board have conducted a variety of scientific research and educational activities. Well into the second year of full utilization of the ISS laboratory, the trend of scientific accomplishments and educational opportunities continues to grow. More than 1500 investigations have been conducted on the ISS since the first module launched in 1998, with over 700 scientific publications. The ISS provides a unique environment for research, international collaboration and educational activities that benefit humankind. This paper will provide an up to date summary of key investigations, facilities, publications, and benefits from ISS research that have developed over the past year. Discoveries in human physiology and nutrition have enabled astronauts to return from ISS with little bone loss, even as scientists seek to better understand the new puzzle of "ocular syndrome" affecting the vision of up to half of astronauts. The geneLAB campaign will unify life sciences investigations to seek genomic, proteomic and metabolomics of the effect of microgravity on life as a whole. Combustion scientists identified a new "cold flame" phenomenon that has the potential to improve models of efficient combustion back on Earth. A significant number of instruments in Earth remote sensing and astrophysics are providing new access to data or nearing completion for launch, making ISS a significant platform for understanding of the Earth system and the universe.
Research on the International Space Station: An Overview
47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting including The New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition, 2009
The International Space Station (ISS) celebrates ten years of operations in 2008. While the station did not support permanent human crews during the first two years of operations-November 1998 to November 2000-it hosted a few early science experiments months before the first international crew took up residence. Since that time-and simultaneous with the complicated task of ISS construction and overcoming impacts from the tragic Columbia accident-science returns from the ISS have been growing at a steady pace. As of this writing, over 162 experiments have been operated on the ISS, supporting research for hundreds of ground-based investigators from the U.S. and international partners. This report summarizes the experimental results collected to date. Today, NASA's priorities for research aboard the ISS center on understanding human health during longduration missions, researching effective countermeasures for long-duration crewmembers, and researching and testing new technologies that can be used for future exploration crews and spacecraft. Through the U.S. National Laboratory designation, the ISS is also a platform available to other government agencies. Research on ISS supports new understandings, methods or applications relevant to life on Earth, such as understanding effective protocols to protect against loss of bone density or better methods for producing stronger metal alloys.
46th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, 2008
Beginning with the launch of the European Columbus module planned for early 2008, we approach a transition in the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS) that is of great importance for the sciences. During the following 18 months, we will operate the first experiments in Columbus physical science research facilities and also launch and commission the Japanese Kibo module. In addition, two Multi-purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) flights will deliver the U.S. Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) and Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR) along with their first science experiments. These facilities provide significant new capabilities for basic and applied physical science research in microgravity. New life support technologies will come online throughout 2008, and we will reach the milestone of a 6-person crew planned for May 2009. A larger crew enables significantly more scientific use of all the facilities for the life of ISS. Planning for the use of the ISS as a National Laboratory is also maturing as we near the completion of assembly, enabling access to ISS as a research platform for other government agencies and the private sector. The latest updates on National Laboratory implementation will also be provided in this presentation. At the same time as these significant increases in scientific capability, there have been significant ongoing accomplishments in NASA's early ISS research-both explorationrelated and fundamental research. These accomplishments will be reviewed in context as harbingers of the capabilities of the ISS when assembly is complete. The Vision for Space Exploration serves to focus NASA's applied investigations in the physical sciences. However, the broader capability of the space station as a National Laboratory and as a nexus for international collaboration will also influence the study of gravity-dependent processes by researchers around the world.
Impact of the International Space Station Research Results
International Astronautical Congress (IAC), 2019
The International Space Station (ISS) facilitates research that benefits human lives on Earth and serves as the primary testing ground for technology development to sustain life in the extreme environment of space. To date, investigators have published a wide range of ISS science results, from improved theories about the creation of stars to the outcome of data mining "omics" repositories of previously completed ISS investigations. Because of the unique microgravity environment of the ISS laboratory and the multidisciplinary and international nature of the research, analyzing ISS scientific impacts is an exceptional challenge. As a result, the ISS Program Science Forum (PSF), made up of senior science representatives across the ISS international partnership, uses various methods to describe the impacts of ISS research activities. For the most part, past papers written by PSF members to assess the overall ISS research impact have focused on exhibiting ISS research impact by quantifying ISS research output or its perceived benefits for humanity. This paper proposes a new assessment of ISS impact from the perspective of the end users' needs. To that end, the authors use visualizations and metrics of scientific publication data to show the ISS research influence on traditional scientific fields, its global reach and the benefits to people across the globe.
Integration of multiple research disciplines on the international space station
Acta Astronautica, 2000
The International Space Station will provide an extremely high-quality, long-duration microgravity environment for the conduct of research. In addition, the ISS offers a platform for performing observations of Earth and Space from a high-inclination orbit, outside of the Earth's atmosphere. This unique environment and observational capability offers the opportunity for advancement in a diverse set of research fields. Many of these disciplines to not relate to one another, and present widely differing approaches to study, as well as different resource and operational requirements.
Synergies Between Space Research and Space Operations-Examples from the International Space Station
45th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, 2007
Space Exploration include conducting research to counteract the harmful effects of space on human health, test new space technologies, and learn to operate long-duration space missions. In pursuit of these objectives, NASA is interested in closer cooperation between the ISS operational community, scientists, and engineers. To develop the exploration vehicles for missions to the moon and Mars, NASA must test materials, foods, and medicines to ensure their performance in the space environment. These results will enable important decisions on the materials to be used for future space vehicles. Another critical factor for the success on future missions beyond Earth orbit is the capability for repairs of equipment. On the ISS, the practice of crewmembers performing repairs in microgravity will increase our understanding of the repair processes in space; when these capabilities are needed during future space exploration missions, we will have the knowledge and experience to perform them. The ISS is a unique and irreplaceable training ground for building the operational knowledge required to safely conduct future exploration missions, and the growing links within the science, engineering and operations communities are reinforcing the value of that training. Current interactions between the communities that support the ISS have already produced many synergies that are significantly accelerating NASA's advancement towards future exploration missions in support of the Vision.
Recent research accomplishments on the International Space Station
… Conference, 2005 IEEE, 2005
Astronauts have conducted more than four years of continuous space research aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The US Laboratory Module, Destiny, is outfitted with a robust suite of scientific equipment to support spaceflight research. Research, albeit limited, is ongoing in spite the grounding of the Space Shuttle fleet as a result of the loss of the Columbia in February 2003. Results from the last four years of research on ISS are now appearing in the scientific literature. Indeed, scientific articles are now being submitted to peer-reviewed journals from the ISS by the Science Officer on board.
Progress toward establishing a US national laboratory on the International Space Station
Acta Astronautica, 2010
The International Space Station (ISS) is rapidly approaching the long-awaited completion of assembly. All United States (US) core elements have been integrated and tested on-orbit and the principle elements of the European and Japanese laboratories were successfully deployed in 2008. The fully envisioned configuration is on schedule to be completed as planned by the end of US government fiscal year 2010. Section 507 of the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 designated the US segment of the ISS as a "national laboratory", thereby opening up its use to other US government agencies, US private firms and US non-profit institutions. This paper reports on progress toward identifying and entering into agreements with entities outside of NASA that plan to use the ISS in the post-assembly timeframe. The original 1984 vision of a robust, multi-mission space station serving as a platform for the advancement of US science, technology and industry will soon be achieved.
The international space station: A pathway to the future
Acta Astronautica, 2005
Nearly six years after the launch of the first International Space Station element, and four years after its initial occupation, the United States and our 6 international partners have made great strides in operating this impressive Earth orbiting research facility. This past year we have done so in the face of the adversity of operating without the benefit of the Space Shuttle. In his January 14, 2004, speech announcing a new vision for America's space program, President Bush affirmed the United States’ commitment to completing construction of the International Space Station by 2010. The President also stated that we would focus our future research aboard the Station on the long-term effects of space travel on human biology. This research will help enable human crews to venture through the vast voids of space for months at a time. In addition, ISS affords a unique opportunity to serve as an engineering test bed for hardware and operations critical to the exploration tasks. NASA looks forward to working with our partners on International Space Station research that will help open up new pathways for future exploration and discovery beyond low Earth orbit. This paper provides an overview of the International Space Station Program focusing on a review of the events of the past year, as well as plans for next year and the future.