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Human Exploration of Space A Review of NASA's 90-Day Study and Alternatives (1990) / Chapter Skim
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IV. Space Science and the Human Exploration Initiative
Pages 21-26

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From page 21...
... Any scientific knowledge that might be obtained in association with long-term human missions should be evaluated in competition with other modes of gathering the same information (e.g., human-tended, telerobotics) and with other scientific research goals.
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From page 22...
... Radiation Issues Radiation from solar and galactic sources poses serious potential hazards to human health. Predictions of solar flares and of solar flare particles remain uncertain, but successful predictions are not prerequisites to human spaceflight, if adequate shielding is provided.
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From page 23...
... There is, moreover, strong evidence that liquid water in large quantities existed in the Martian past. Furthermore, new discoveries about unusual biological niches on Earth, such as deep ocean thermal vents, illustrate the diversity of biological habitats.
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From page 24...
... As is the case with most risks to humans arising from long stays in the microgravity environment, technological advances in nuclear and other propulsion systems could alleviate some adverse effects by reducing mission duration. Physical Sciences Because the use of local resources is likely to be an essential feature of the mission architecture, additional scientific knowledge will be required about surface materials, features, and structures, both on the Moon and Mars.
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From page 25...
... Several themes pose questions that challenge astronomers, and NASA notes, for example, that the Moon offers a number of advantages as a site for astronomical observatories. The committee believes the Moon could offer potentially unique research opportunities for a number of space science disciplines, including astronomy.
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From page 26...
... Each scientific opportunity to be derived from human space exploration should be defined and evaluated, with consideration of its relative priority in the research strategy of the appropriate discipline, and an assessment of the most effective means to achieve it.
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Key Terms

  • space science
  • flare particles
  • solar flare
  • precursor missions
  • microgravity environment

  • solar flares
  • exploration initiative
  • study envisions
  • galactic cosmic
  • research strategy

  • human space
  • effects arising
  • essential feature
  • detailed mission
  • artificial gravity

  • primary dose
  • gravity environments
  • provides evidence
  • living tissue
  • poses serious

  • scientific opportunity
  • lunar base
  • lunar materials
  • desirable traits
  • sample return

  • surface materials
  • additional scientific
  • prolonged human
  • mission architectures
  • require detailed


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