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Setting Priorities for Space Research Opportunities and Imperatives (1992) / Chapter Skim
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Setting Priorities for Space Research: Opportunities and Imperatives (Chapter 1)
Pages 18-22

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From page 18...
... civil space program, and consequently space research, was expressed in the Apollo era "as the manifestation of a vision -- the vision that our human destiny is to explore the universe."1 In this context, the military metaphor of "mission" has been used to refer to all space activities, including REPORT MENU scientific research. The use of this term emphasizes the penetration of a difficult domain, NOTICE rather than the information and knowledge to be acquired.
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From page 19...
... For the space program and for space research, such assumptions may determine events more powerfully than judgments based on scientific merit or national values or shaped by the imperatives of changing economic and political conditions. For example, an emphasis on transport to space led to the launching of several scientific research vehicles (e.g., Galileo, Magellan, Ulysses, and Hubble)
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From page 20...
... Observational and informational systems must be created to interact effectively: "The satellite and the computer are a natural partnership; one provides data, the other makes sense of it."3 Thus an effective model for scientific research in space will emphasize the acquisition, management, and use of information from space to enhance human knowledge and understanding. It will enable us to focus on this critical commodity of the contemporary world.
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From page 21...
... SOURCE: Office of Space Science and Applications, NASA. Thus it appears clear that NASA and the nation will have to choose among scientific research initiatives and other components of the space program.
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From page 22...
... Careful consideration and formulation of assumptions and priorities for the scientific research program and the overall space program that supports it will enable us to better serve national goals, compel effective action, achieve the maximum return on our national investment, and inspire our citizenry.
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Key Terms

  • space research
  • space science
  • civil space
  • space activities
  • setting priorities

  • human spaceflight
  • space policy
  • nasa scientific
  • scientific missions
  • research components

  • national space
  • space stations
  • space demand
  • overall space
  • space led

  • nasa space
  • consequently space
  • space shuttle
  • space involves
  • space effort

  • entire space
  • space budget
  • remarkable scientific
  • scientific experiments
  • scientific instruments

  • scientific support
  • conveying scientific
  • scientific merit
  • scientific efforts
  • generating scientific


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