Ovewieiv 



have waited 10 years or more to fly their experiments. Competition among these 

 scientists and others will be intense for research space when Shuttle operations 

 resume on a regular basis. 



The achievement of life sciences' goals requires experimentation in space: on all 

 manned missions, on Earth observing satellites, on orbiting observatories, on solar 

 system explorations, on other planets. From past and continuing efforts, we know 

 that the scientific rewards will be substantial, both for basic research and for future 

 NASA initiatives. We realize, too, that flight opportunities in the foreseeable future 

 will continue to be costly and limited in number; demand will exceed supply. The 

 Life Sciences Division will have to work in this environment; the various programs 

 and offices will need to achieve maximum scientific returns from available opportu- 

 nities, including agreements with domestic and international organizations. Divi- 

 sion research will continue to require flexibility and, most certainly, collaboration. 



The issues outlined above are examined further in the remaining topical discus- 

 sions presented in section 3: "Flight Programs," which focuses on requirements for 

 flight opportunities; "Program Administration," which explores the management 

 structure of NASA's Life Sciences Division and related programs; and "Applica- 

 tions," which examines the transfer of NASA's technological innovations to the pri- 

 vate sector. 



Future Course 



The U.S. space program has reached an important threshold. In the past, NASA 

 had to concentrate its funds on engineering and technical issues to make missions 

 feasible at the most basic levels. NASA is now considering increasingly complex 

 missions, looking both to intensified satellite observation of the Earth and extended 

 human exploration of the inner solar system. Life Sciences programs must be posi- 

 tioned to help the Agency prepare for and conduct its future missions. 



The research goals and emphases of the Life Sciences programs are truly diverse. 

 This diversity springs from a number of sources. The Agency's needs are diverse, 

 requiring research in basic science and in human health and safety Modern science 

 is generally progressing on a path that promotes interdisciplinary research. More 

 specifically, space flight has required interdisciplinary science from its beginnings. 

 As indicated by fundamental ecology, diversity can lead to synergisms and creative 

 new possibilities. 



The reports of several task forces comprised of prominent scientists and engineers 

 have recently emphasized the importance of life sciences to the Nation's future in 

 space (1, 2, 3). Their conclusions provide support to the findings and recommenda- 

 tions of the Life Sciences Strategic Planning Study Committee. The message from 

 these various studies is clear and the opportunity at hand. To conduct any of its 

 current initiatives, to reassert its leadership in space research and exploration, 

 NASA needs to assure that the life sciences are a critical part of the Nation's 

 space program. 



