June 3, 198! 



NASA 



National Aeronautics and 

 Space Administration 



Washington, D C 

 20546 



Office of the Administrator 



Honorable James C. Fletcher 



Administrator 



National Aeronautics and Space Administration 



Washington, DC 20546 



De a r Jim: 



I am pleased to forward with this letter the report of the NASA 

 Advisory Council's Life Science Strategic Planning Study 

 Committee. The report, "Exploring the Living Universe: A 

 Strategy for Space Life Sciences," is the product of an intensive 

 study by a group of renowned experts in various life science and 

 other disciplines. It addresses and provides recommendations on 

 goals, objectives, and priorities for the overall life science 

 program; for the sub-programs of human space flight, 

 gravitational biology, and planetary biological research; for 

 flight programs; and for program administration. When presented 

 to the full Council at its meeting on "lay 25, 1988, it was 

 enthusiastically endorsed and approved for transmittal to you. 



One principal recommendation of the report is for NASA to expand 

 its program of ground- and space-based research contributing to 

 resolving guestions about phys ioloq ical decond i t ion ing , radiation 

 exposure, potential psychological difficulties, and life support 

 reguirements that may limit stay times for personnel on the Space 

 Station and complicate missions of more extended duration. Other 

 key recommendations call for strengthening programs of biological 

 systems research in: controlled ecological life support systems 

 for humans in space, Earth systems central to understanding the 

 effects on the Earth's environment of both natural and human 

 activities, and exobiologv. The Council has lono supported 

 strengthening space life science programs and our concerns voiced 

 in prior reports to NASA were in large measure responsible for 

 commissioning this study. 



This report joins those of the Solar System Exploration Committee 

 and the Earth Systems Science Committee as keystones for planning 

 the respective programs for some years to come. Fred Robbins and 

 his committee members, associates, and staff have earned NASA's 

 and the Council's commendations and thanks for a job well done. 



rely, 



Daniel J. Fink, Chairman 

 NASA Advisory Council 



Enclosure 



