B
NASA Letter of Request
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Reply to Ann of: U
NOV 13 1998
Space Studies Board
As we embark on the great adventure of constructing the International Space Station (ISS) next month, I believe that it is important to look at the operation of this great engineering feat and to assure that the research to be carried out is done in the optimum way. In looking at successes in other disciplines, I have been impressed by the operation of the Hubble Space Institute. While the data management is clearly different and the desire to integrate research, commercial ventures and technology efforts will offer different challenges, I believe some sort of institute could be very useful. As a result, the assistance of the Space Studies Board is requested to establish an ad hoc team to study various options, to make recommendations to the Human Exploration and Development of Space Enterprise, and to look at the advantages and disadvantages of the various possibilities.
I request a “Study of Institutional Arrangements for Utilization of the International Space Station” be undertaken immediately. I would like the study to accomplish to the degree possible:
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a critical review of current plans for development and operation of the ISS, anticipated scope of planned R&D activities on the ISS, current and planned NASA ISS ground and flight infrastructure, experience with relevant space-flight or ground-based analogs or precursors to the ISS, and plans for international participation in the ISS program;
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develop basic principles to guide the definition and implementation of appropriate institutional arrangements for facilitating research on the ISS; and
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identify, as recognized by the team, the most important issues to be considered in selecting an institutional approach.
To be most useful to NASA, I would like to have a report from the team in late May 1999, as rationale for budgetary input for the FY 2001 budget. Thank you very much for your consideration of this request and your help in its implementation.