Thriving in Space Ensuring the Future of Biological and Physical Sciences Research: A Decadal Survey for 2023-2032 (2023) / Chapter Skim
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This goal can be accomplished by substantially increasing national investment in BPS research infrastructure and investigators, concentrating U.S. effort on ambitious yet focused key scientific questions that strategically advance space exploration and transform knowledge of how the world works, and considering new investment in large-scale research campaigns.
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Federal investment in this science occurs primarily through the NASA Division of Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS Division) , now within the Science Mission Directorate (SMD)
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NASA stood up the Division of Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Application, which later became BPS and moved to SMD. The creation of the BPS Division and its subsequent placement in SMD resulted in a scientifically engaged division that is perceived to be moving to accommodate the science intensive needs of space exploration.
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Recommendation: Because the nation benefits from global leadership in space science and technol ogy, and given the emergence of commercial platforms that can be tasked to the nation's science, NASA should: • Seek significant funding increases for biological and physical sciences with new monies or through rebalancing the portfolio across the Science Mission Directorate, and in coordination with other U.S. government agencies, as the community needs to grow significantly in size to reach the science goals of the nation; • Actively engage commercial spaceflight firms, using science funding as a driver and with all due haste, to ensure that science needs are met with clear priority, guaranteeing that national science needs are enabled along with those of potential commercial customers using those platforms; and • Ensure that the funded science community fully engages diversity and inclusivity in the pursuit of the nation's space exploration science priorities.
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(Chapter 3, Recommendation 2) TABLE S-1 Key Scientific Questions in BPS Space Research Over the Decade 2023–2032 Themes Key Scientific Questions Adapting to Space (Chapter 4)
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They are intended to be additional components of the BPS science portfolio beyond the budget currently dedicated to BPS science. Recommendation: NASA should pursue dedicated research campaigns that, through the coming de cade, will drive solutions to specific groups of key scientific questions.
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The study also identified a novel BPS research infrastructure concept -- the Biological and Physical Science Free Flyer (BiPS-Free) vehicle for polar-orbital, untended space science research venues addresses current constraints of crew-tended, LEO-limited BPS research, including months-long access by non-human living organisms and engineered materials to the gravitational forces and cosmic ray radiation exposure beyond LEO.
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Notably, the BPS Division was not included in the above NASA studies because the BPS Division does not have competed space science missions as do the other four SMD divisions. However, shared responsibility to foster BPS research excellence in the United States -- by NASA as one of the primary funders of the space science research community and by sponsored investigators who build and mentor their research teams -- is included as part of the decision rules that were part of this decadal survey's statement of task.
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Private-sector development of BPS research platforms and destinations can advance national priorities, but NASA's leadership and support of fundamental research with societal benefit will remain critical as costs and access approaches remain uncharted territory for BPS. NASA thus plays an important role in coordinating this new space science ecosystem.
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SOURCE: Courtesy of NASA, Expedition 42. • Representing multiple space environments and destinations (e.g., not only the International Space Station in low Earth orbit)
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