Space Studies Board Annual Report 2000 (2001) / Chapter Skim
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3. Summaries of Major Reports
3. Summaries of Major Reports
Pages 34-92
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From page 34... ...
The protein crystal growth work focuses on using microgravity to produce higher quality macromolecular crystals for structure determination and on improving understanding of the crystal growth process. The cell science work focuses on basic research that contributes to understanding how the microgravity environment affects the fundamental behavior of cells, particularly in relation to tissue formation and the effects of space exploration on living organisms.
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From page 35... ...
While past NASA-supported research on the crystallization process has not been without value, NASA's priority should now be to resolve the community's questions about the usefulness of protein crystal growth in the microgravity environment for tackling important biological questions. Until the uncertainty about the value of space-based crystallization is resolved, a program of this fiscal magnitude is bound to engender resentment in the scientific community.
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From page 36... ...
However, the efforts of hardware developers need to be coordinated and communications between them must be improved to ensure that different programs are not producing instruments with duplicative capabilities and that technological advances are quickly shared and integrated into all equipment where appropriate. Recommendation: The efforts of external hardware developers should be coordinated to ensure that instruments are compatible, to prevent duplication of efforts, to ensure that technical innovations are shared, and to facilitate input from the scientific community in defining the goals and capabilities of protein crystal growth equipment for the ISS.
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From page 37... ...
the Tray dlltractlon module provides valuable information about whether a given crystal will diffract this real-time feedback is key to making decisions about the success or failure of a particular crystallization experiment and will help allocate scarce freezer resources by ensuring that the most promising crystals are preserved and returned to Earth. Finding: Automation, monitoring, real-time feedback, telemanagement, and sample recovery (via mounting and freezing will be vitalfor successful protein crystal growth experiments on the ISS.
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From page 38... ...
Namely, the XCF rack devoted to crystal growth and monitoring should be transferred from Space Product Development to the Microgravity Research Division's protein crystal growth program, where experiments are selected by a centralized peer-review process and a full complement of hardware is available. The rack currently scheduled to be shared by cell science and protein crystal growth can then be dedicated entirely to cell science research.
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From page 39... ...
· The rack presently assigned to the XCF growth equipment and managed by NASA Space Product Development should be officially dedicated to the peer-reviewed macromolecular research run out of the Microgravity Research Division. SELECTION AND OUTREACH NASA research in cell science and protein crystal growth is funded through a collection of approximately 90 active 4-year grants; the total size of the program is roughly $19 million per year.
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From page 40... ...
Recommendation: The separate identities of the protein crystal growth and cell science sections of NASA's biotechnology research program should be emphasized. One key step should be splitting the Discipline Working Group into two strategic advisory committees to reflect the different issues facing each area of research.
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From page 41... ...
The success or failure of these research efforts would definitively resolve the issue of whether the microgravity environment can be a valuable tool for researchers and would determine the future of the NASA protein crystal growth program. Cell Science NASA has built a very productive relationship with the NIH based on the development and use of rotating-wall vessels.
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From page 42... ...
It is within this broad context that the committee considered questions about the emerging FBC paradigm and its implications for mission size mixes in NASA's Earth and space science programs. How FBC is defined and how FBC principles are applied to programs of any scale have many implications for the space program: its tolerance for risk; its ability to carry out strategic plans; the scope, scale, and diversity of science investigated; the results and analytical products of its missions; the ways it trains young scientists and engineers; the role of international cooperation and the ease with which it can be incorporated into NASA's programs and plans; the role of universities, industry, government laboratories, and NASA centers in conducting space research missions; and the general health and vitality of the space science and Earth science enterprises.
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From page 43... ...
Through the careful planning processes that now characterize both the Earth science and the space science enterprises, the key outstanding questions of each discipline can be framed. Each such science question or disciplinary quest must then be examined in terms of the science community's priorities, the measurement requirements, and the technological readiness to determine which mission approach (or approaches)
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From page 44... ...
has shown that great care must be exercised in making changes to technical management techniques lest mission success be compromised. Recommendation 1: Transfer appropriate elements of the faster-better-cheaper management principles to the entire portfolio of space science and Earth science mission sizes and cost ranges and tailor the management approach of each project to the size, complexity, scientific value, and cost of its mission.
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From page 45... ...
space and Earth science programs. Specifically, restore separate, peer-reviewed announcements of opportunity for enhancements to foreign-led space research missions.
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From page 46... ...
Proponents of the small satellite approach believed that advances in miniaturization would allow development of much smaller sensors with performance sufficient for many Earth science and operational needs. These smaller sensors could be accommodated on capable, smaller spacecraft and launched with the new generation of smaller launch vehicles.
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From page 47... ...
In particular, technology has advanced to the point where very capable buses are currently available for performing many Earth observation missions. However, some Earth observation payloads are too large, too heavy, too demanding of power, or generate too much vibration to be accommodated efficiently with small satellite missions.
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From page 48... ...
COST OF SMALL SATELLITE MISSIONS Small spacecraft do offer opportunities for low-cost missions, but very low costs are experienced only with simple spacecraft performing limited missions. Small spacecraft can be relatively expensive when they retain the complexity required to meet demanding science objectives (pointing accuracy, power, processor speed, redundancy, etc.~.
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From page 49... ...
Small satellites offer program managers flexibility that is useful for both operational and research missions. For example, operational missions might employ small satellites to ensure minimum gaps in critical data records, while research missions might use small satellites to ensure short time to science.
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From page 50... ...
Some Earth science missions require access to long-term, consistent data sets from a variety of sensors. Operational systems, such as meteorological satellites, have strict requirements for data availability from multiple sensors for short-term and long-term forecasting.
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From page 51... ...
The science community should be involved throughout the system design and implementation process rather than be limited to providing measurement requirements at the initial design stages. Regular assessments of sensor and system design, data products, and algorithms are needed to provide science community insight into the process.
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From page 52... ...
The committee will identify opportunities which exist for Microgravity research to contribute to the understanding of fundamental science questions underlying exploration technologies and make recommendations for some areas of directed research. In addition to the above charge, the committee was asked to give some consideration to radiation hazards and shielding.
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From page 53... ...
multiphase flow and heat transfer, referring to the flow of more than one fluid phase in pipes, pumps, and phase change components, and flow in porous media, exemplified by the flow of fluids in the packed and fluidized particulate beds used in chemical reactors; (3) multiphase system dynamics, which deals with the global instabilities that may occur in multiphase systems; (4)
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From page 54... ...
Indeed, the following recommended research is aimed at developing predictive models of multiphase flow and heat transfer and testing these models against reduced-scale data taken in microgravity environments: · The development of physically based models to predict the flow regimes, flow regime transitions, and the multiphase flow and heat transfer that occur in fractional gravity and microgravity environments. These models should include the effects of two-phase turbulence, surface-tension-induced forces, and the axial and lateral interracial and wall forces on the flowing phases (i.e., the flow-regime-specific interracial and wall constitutive laws)
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From page 55... ...
Applied research looking toward economic and effective artificial gravity should emphasize solutions that would apply to both technical and biological systems. Research on and development of reduced-gravity countermeasures are given higher priority in the report and must obviously proceed hand in hand with the microgravity research recommended elsewhere in this report, because the latter will establish the target gravity levels desired for various components and systems.
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From page 56... ...
It was thought then, and is still believed, that in view of the long time scale needed for the evolution of basic scientific concepts into practical applications, the suggested research programs will require a sustained commitment on the part of NASA to achieve an understanding of gravity-related issues. A Research Approach for the Development of Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer Technology For NASA to be able to decide whether multiphase and phase change systems can be used and controlled in future HEDS missions, a well-focused experimental and analytical research program will be needed to develop an understanding of how multiphase systems and processes behave in reduced gravity.
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From page 57... ...
Microgravity Research and the International Space Station It is expected that the International Space Station (ISS) will provide a unique platform for conducting longduration microgravity scientific research and assessing the efficiency and long-term suitability of many of the technical systems important to HEDS.
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From page 58... ...
Determining whether or not this methodology is applicable to Europa missions was the central facet of the task group's deliberations. The Task Group on the Forward Contamination of Europa concluded that current cleaning and sterilization techniques are satisfactory to meet the needs of future space missions to Europa.
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From page 59... ...
The other subset argued that studies of the organisms found in extreme terrestrial environments suggest that no known terrestrial organism has a significant probability of surviving and multiplying in a europan ocean. The practical consequences of both of these views is that Europa missions should be subject to essentially the same planetary protection requirements that are currently applied to Mars missions.
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From page 60... ...
This report presents a comprehensive and prioritized plan for the new decade that builds on these and other discoveries to pursue the goal of understanding the universe, a goal that unites astronomers and astrophysicists with scientists from many other disciplines. The Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee was charged with surveying both ground- and spacebased astronomy and recommending priorities for new initiatives in the decade 2000 to 2010.
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From page 61... ...
The committee endorses U.S. participation in the European Far Infrared Space Telescope (FIRST)
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From page 62... ...
There are now fewer opportunities for missions of moderate size, however, despite the enormous role such missions have played in the past. · NASA should continue to encourage the development of a diverse range of mission sizes, including small, moderate, and major, to ensure the most effective returns from the U.S.
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From page 63... ...
International collaboration plays a crucial role in a number of this committee's recommended initiatives, including the Next Generation Space Telescope, the Expanded Very Large Array, the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, the Advanced Solar Telescope, and the Square Kilometer Array technology development, and it could play a significant role in other recommended initiatives as well. NEW INVESTMENTS IN ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS Many mysteries confront us in the quest to understand our place in the universe.
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From page 64... ...
and Estimated Federal Costs for the Decade 2000 to 2010a b Initiative CostC ($M) Major Initiatives Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST)
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From page 65... ...
It will revolutionize understanding of how stars and planets form in the Galaxy today. NGST is an 8-m-class infrared space telescope with 100 times the sensitivity and 10 times the image sharpness of the Hubble Space Telescope in the infrared.
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From page 66... ...
The highly variable hard x-ray sky will be mapped by the Energetic X-ray Imaging Survey Telescope (EXIST) , which will be attached to the International Space Station.
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From page 67... ...
For the recommended space-based initiatives, technology investment as specified in the existing NASA technology road map is an assumed prerequisite for the cost estimates given in Table ES.
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From page 68... ...
It also draws on investigations by the committee for the two-part report Issues in the Integration of Research and Operational Satellite Systems for Climate Research.2 Climate Data Records In briefings to the committee, NASA and NOAA officials acknowledged that there is no operational ground system infrastructure for U.S. climate data and services.
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From page 69... ...
While encouraged by NASA and NOAA's recent attention to preserving the climate record of NPP, NPOESS, and EOS, the committee believes that an enormous investment in Earth observations is at serious risk. Based on an examination of prior studies, as well as discussions at its February 7-8, 2000, workshop, the committee identified a set of principles it believes can help ensure the preservation of the climate record from NPP and NPOESS: · Accessible and policy-relevant environmental information must be a well-maintained part of our national scientific infrastructure.
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From page 70... ...
The low-level data can be used to develop refined CDRs as scientific and technical understanding of Earth processes and sensor performance improves over time. The committee recommends that NOAA do the following: · Archive both current and future data sets, including those from both research and operational satellite missions, in an LTA.
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From page 71... ...
NASA's Distributed Active Archives Centers, as well as components of NASA's Earth Science Information Partners, are gaining experience with responding to data requests and setting up user services. Although the focus is on the order entry process (catalog, data location, browse, etc.)
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From page 72... ...
· Where appropriate, build on existing and planned capabilities, including EOSDIS, the Earth Science Information Partners, NASA's Distributed Active Archive Centers, and NOAA's Data Centers, and develop new capabilities as user experience is gained.
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From page 73... ...
CHARGE AND APPROACH In response to a request from NASA (Appendix A) , the Committee to Review NASA's Earth Science Enterprise Science Plan was assembled to review NASA Earth Science Enterprise Research Strategy for 2000-2010, the overview of NASA ESE Science Implementation Plan.
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From page 74... ...
= D=C! = ~ Did AND ~ KIEV FUJI FIJI I ~ l`~ ~ ~~ ~ The NASA Earth Science Enterprise Research Strategy for 2000-2010 was written explicitly to delineate the science objectives and questions that NASA can address and a strategy for addressing those questions.
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From page 75... ...
The continuing growth in funding for astronomy in the 1980s and 1990s has been largely the result of the success of NASA's space science program, in particular the launch of NASA's Great Observatories and several midsized facility-class satellites. Another important factor in the growth in funding for astronomy has been a large influx of private funding (from foundations and universities)
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From page 76... ...
In the event of an HST failure, the additional loss of jobs directly associated with the Space Telescope Science Institute and NASA' s Goddard Space Flight Center would be substantial, not to mention the loss of a primary scientific capability. Recovery of the scientific personnel complement and the nation's astronomical research capability from such a catastrophe would be slow.
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From page 77... ...
Although the committee found the balance of NASA research between the various biomedical disciplines to be generally consistent with the relative emphasis given to them in the Strategy report, many of the specific research topics given the highest overall priority are still to be addressed. Noted below is the degree to which these research topics appear in the current program.
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From page 78... ...
However, the Strategy report recommended a major flight component for most discipline research programs, and the current lack of appropriate flight opportunities may lead to delays in the development of needed countermeasures for physiological changes such as orthostatic intolerance and muscle loss. Although it is possible, and even necessary, to perform much of the preliminary work on the ground, many of the critical research questions cannot be resolved without in-flight studies.
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From page 79... ...
Plans exist to monitor indicators for a number of physiological changes in International Space Station (ISS) astronauts.
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From page 80... ...
Some of the most significant issues that remain to be addressed follow. International Space Station: Utilization and Facilities The adequacy of the life sciences research facilities that will actually be in place on the ISS at its final build-out remains an issue of serious concern.
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From page 81... ...
REFERENCE National Research Council (NRC) , Space Studies Board.
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From page 82... ...
, and potentially other NASA programs, were included in the converged program to provide new remote sensing and spacecraft technologies that could improve the operational capabilities of the converged system. The program that followed, called the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS)
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From page 83... ...
Included in the committee's analysis is an assessment of the role of new technology or new measurement strategies in enhancing existing climate data products or delivering new data products of interest. Common Issues Issues: In its review of the eight representative climate variables the committee identified the following common · Need for a comprehensive long-term strategy.
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From page 84... ...
These include an initial commitment to data stability on the part of the NPOESS IPO, an active program of data analysis and data product validation by NASA's Earth Science Enterprise (ESE) , and an active plan for NASA and NOAA collaborative missions such as the NPOESS Preparatory Project.
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From page 85... ...
RECOMMENDATIONS The following recommendations are directed to the climate research community, NASA's Earth Science Enterprise, and the NPOESS Integrated Program Office. They derive from consideration of the common issues associated with the space-based measurement of climate variables and committee concerns related to the conduct of climate research.
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From page 86... ...
The NASA Earth Science Enterprise should continue to play an active role in the acquisition and analysis of systematic measurements for climate research as well as in the provision of new technology for NPOESS. The committee proposes the following specific actions to achieve this recommendation: · NASA/ESE should develop specific technology programs aimed at the development of sustainable instrumentation for NPOESS.
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From page 87... ...
Yet the Committee on Earth Studies believes that, while challenging, the integration of operational and research missions to advance the objectives of climate research is possible and that a unique opportunity to demonstrate such integration is presented by the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and the redesigned NASA/Earth Science Enterprise (ESE)
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From page 88... ...
NPOESS officials appear to be making significant progress toward facilitating such data records, particularly in their attempts to set stability requirements for some of the critical data sets. Currently, however, some NPOESS environmental data records do not have stability requirements, while others have incomplete or insufficient requirements.
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From page 89... ...
. Data Systems The development of an NPOESS climate data system (NCDS)
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From page 90... ...
· Data should be supported by metadata that carefully document sensor performance history and data processing algorithms. · The system should have the ability to reprocess large data sets as understanding of sensor performance, algorithms, and Earth science improves.
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From page 91... ...
· If the NPOESS program is to be used to support the science community as well as the operational weather agency, then a careful assessment of the pertinent science requirements must be made in the early phases of the program. · Technology insertion always will be subject to limitations.
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From page 92... ...
REFERENCES Integrated Program Office (IPO) , National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS)
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